Bourdeaux resigns from Utah Legislature
"It's time to take on new challenges, spend more time with my family and care for my elderly parents," Bourdeaux said in a statement. He had already decided not to run for re-election in November.
His decision means Democrats can nominate a temporary replacement for the District 23 seat at the party's Salt Lake County convention on Saturday.
Bourdeaux said two of the three Democrats who filed for the seat have dropped out, leaving Jen Seelig as the party's nominee. He said while he didn't time his departure to help her campaign, he was supportive of her candidacy.
"I think she'll do a terrific job," Bourdeaux said of Seelig.
House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, said Bourdeaux's decision to leave office now "will give a head start" to the party's candidate for the seat. "Duane really felt his time was up," Becker said. "He was ready to move on."
Bourdeaux served on several legislative committees, including Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Education, Education Appropriations as well as on the Utah Sentencing Commission. He also served on the Legislative Oversight Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics and the Legislative Ethics Committee.
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