Utah Senate mourns death of longtime lawmaker Karen Mayne
Aug 16, 2024, 1:00 PM | Updated: 3:02 pm
Former Sen. Karen Mayne waves to members of the Senate after a bill that creates a scholarship for law enforcement officers passed at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. (Laura Seitz/Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz/Deseret News)
Listen at 4:15 p.m.: Utah State Sen. Luz Escamilla reflects on Mayne’s legacy
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate announced the death of longtime state Sen. Karen Mayne on Thursday night.
“Today, we lost an extraordinary stateswoman and one of our dearest friends. Sen. Karen Mayne was a trailblazer and exceptional leader who showed us how working together, despite political differences, can strengthen our state,” the Senate’s statement said.
Senate President J. Stuart Adams and Minority Leader Luz Escamilla said Mayne’s memory and legacy will “remain forever in our hearts” and that she was an example of “living and serving with love.”
“We will forever be grateful for the years we were lucky enough to spend working alongside Sen. Mayne. During this time, we witnessed her unwavering dedication, compassion and grace in serving the people of Utah. Not only was she a confidant of ours but also a source of inspiration, both personally and professionally,” the statement continued.
The Democratic senator from West Valley City joined the Senate in 2008. She announced her retirement from the Legislature in January 2023 due to health concerns from a cancer diagnosis that caused her health to decline after being reelected in November 2022.
“Throughout her 15 years as a senator, she has passionately and successfully advocated for impactful improvements for our state. She was one of the most effective legislators and consistently passed the most bills during sessions,” the Senate’s statement said.
