Rep. Ken Ivory had pushed for feds to return land to states
By Dennis Romboy | Deseret News
Perhaps the Utah Legislature’s most vocal critic of federal land management policies and advocate for state’s rights announced his resignation Friday.
Ivory, first elected in 2010, said it has been one of the greatest honors of his life to serve in the House.
Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, will step down from his Utah House seat on Monday for a new job that he said would require his full time and attention.
“During my time, I’ve been blessed to work with amazing leaders across the political spectrum to help make this state the best place to live, work, receive an education and raise a family,” he said. “I’m grateful to the constituents who entrusted me to represent them, and I promise to continue serving in whatever capacity I can.”
Ivory, an attorney, led Utah’s so-far unsuccessful push to take control of public lands managed by the federal government. He sponsored the Transfer of Public Lands Act that passed the Legislature in 2012, an attempt to force the federal government to transfer the title of millions of acres of public land to the state.
His efforts drew praise from rural government leaders, while rankling environmental groups.