State representative Jon Cox announced Wednesday that he will resign from the Utah House and take a job on Governor Herbert’s senior staff.
Cox will leave the House to become the Governor’s Director of Communication. He says he hopes to continue influencing positive change in Utah as he moves from the legislative to the executive branch.
“The things we’ve done in the state over the last few years, I think we’re definitely headed in the right direction. I want to make sure that that continues and I think this position gives me an opportunity to help do that,” said Cox.
Cox represents House District 58 that covers parts of Juab and San Pete counties. He was appointed to the seat in 2013 to replace Spencer Cox who became Lieutenant Governor. Voters elected him to a full term in 2014. Jon Cox and Spencer Cox are distantly related. Now Republican delegates in that district will select a replacement pending the approval of the Governor. Once approved that person would serve out the term until the 2016 election. Cox says it’s important to get a replacement in his seat as soon as possible.
“The intent is to make sure we have somebody in that seat before any sort of special session might take place,” said Cox.
Jon Cox will replace Marty Carpenter as Governor Herbert’s Director of Communications. Carpenter is stepping down from the post to work on the Governor’s re-election campaign.