LaWanna Shurtliff

LaWanna "Lou" Shurtliff (June 13, 1935 – December 30, 2020)[1] was an American politician who served in the Utah House of Representatives from 1999 through 2008, and was elected again in 2018. She had just won her 2020 election before her unexpected death, and never took office for that term.

LaWanna Shurtliff
Member of the
Utah House of Representatives
from the 10th district
In office
January 1, 2019 – December 30, 2020
Preceded byDixon Pitcher
Succeeded byRosemary Lesser
In office
January 1, 1999 – January 1, 2009
Preceded byPatricia B. Larson
Succeeded byC. Brent Wallis
Personal details
Born(1935-06-13)June 13, 1935
Star Valley, Wyoming, U.S.
DiedDecember 30, 2020(2020-12-30) (aged 85)
Ogden, Utah
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUtah State University (BS)

Early life and education

Shurtliff was born and raised in Star valley Wyoming. Shurtliff earned a BS in Business and English Education from Utah State University in 1957. It was at Utah State where she met her husband Robert "Bob" Shurtliff. [2]

Career

Shurtliff was a teacher at Ogden High School for 29 years, teaching English, accounting, and business. She went on to represent the Utah Education Association and National Education Association. Her background in education spurred her interest in politics as she hoped to increase funding for public schools and Utah teachers.

Shurtliff was asked last minute by the Weber County Democratic Party to run for the Utah State Senate. Shurtliff lost by under 200 votes and garnered 49.92%. [3]

In 1998 Pat Larsen was retiring from her seat in the Utah House of Representatives in District 10. Shurtliff ran to succeed her friend Pat and won against Republican Bill Turner. Shurtliff had held the District 10 seat, from 1999 through 2008, and was last elected in 2006 to the seat, which covers southern Ogden and South Ogden. She didn't seek reelection after that last term. During her time in the legislature from 1999 to 2008 Shurtliff passed legislation related to assisting victims of domestic violence, establishing some of the first stalking injunctions in the country and increasing funding for Utah schools and teachers.

Three days before the 2018 filing ended Shurtliff was approached by two Weber State University students who asked her to run for her old seat in House District 10, offering to manage her campaign. She filed the next day and was the only Democrat to file for that race.[4] In the 2018 general election, she defeated Republican candidate Lorraine Brown, with 53.89% of the vote. [5] Shurtliff is the first Democrat to win a Utah House race in Weber County since Neil Hansen won the District 9 race in 2008.[6] During the 2019 session Shurtliff sponsored multiple pieces of legislation that addressed substance abuse and justice reform.[7] Lou Shurtliff also voted against SB 96 that altered the medicaid expansion initiative that passed in 2018. She credited her vote against altering the initiative due to her district voting over 60% in favor of it and "respecting the will of the people". [8] Shurtliff had just won a narrow race in 2020 against Republican Travis Campbell (51%) before her unexpected death.[9]

Shurtliff was also a founding executive committee member to the group Weber County Forward.[10]

Personal life

Shurtliff and her husband Bob Shurtliff raised their two children Scot Shurtliff and Stacy Godfrey in Ogden. Shurtliff had six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Shurtliff was a retired English teacher at Ogden High School,[11] teaching from 1966 to 1994. She died on December 30, 2020, at the age of 85 in Ogden, Utah, after suffering from pneumonia.[2]

References
  1. Donaldson, Amy (December 30, 2020). "Rep. Lou Shurtliff dies after 3-week battle with pneumonia". Deseret News. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  2. VoteSmart biography
  3. "Weber Elections". www.weberelections.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  4. "ToddCastUtah's podcast: Rep. Lou Shurtliff on Substance Abuse and Justice Reform". toddcastutah.libsyn.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  5. "LaWanna Shurtliff". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  6. VANDENACK, TIM. "Weber County Dems on track to win first Utah House seat in a decade". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  7. https://le.utah.gov/~2019/bills/static/HB0359.html
  8. https://le.utah.gov/av/floorArchive.jsp?markerID=105619
  9. "LaWanna Shurtliff". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  10. VANDENACK, TIM. "Weber County leaders to debate plan seeking study into changing county government". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  11. "Meet the seven new women — five Democrats and two Republicans — who will join the Utah Legislature in January". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
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