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Phil Lyman

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Phil Lyman
Member of the Utah House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Preceded byMichael Noel
Constituency73rd district (2019–2023)
69th district (2023–present)
Personal details
Born
Phillip Kay Lyman

Blanding, Utah, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJody Shumway Lyman
Children5
EducationBrigham Young University (BS)
University of Utah (MS)
December 2020 pardon granted by Donald Trump

Phillip Kay Lyman is an American politician from Utah. A resident of Blanding, he currently represents the 69th district in the Utah House of Representatives as a Republican.[1]

During the 2022 legislative session, Lyman served on the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee; House Government Operations Committee; House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee; and Legislative Water Development Commission.[2]

Lyman challenged incumbent Governor Spencer Cox in the 2024 Utah gubernatorial election[3] and lost in the Republican primary election. He subsequently promoted his own write-in campaign for governor in a campaign ad for Democratic nominee Brian King.[4]

Life and professional career

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By profession, Lyman is a Certified Public Accountant and has been active in the business community in Blanding and the surrounding region. He earned a B.S. in Accounting from Brigham Young University as well as a M.S. in Accounting from the University of Utah. He is married to Jody Shumway Lyman and they have five children. Lyman is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has worked as an AICPA Personal Financial Specialist. Serving as the San Juan County Commissioner from 2011 to 2018, Lyman was voted Commissioner of the year by Utah Association of Counties. Lyman has served as Charter President of the Rotary Club of Blanding, Utah.[5]

Political career

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As a San Juan County Commissioner, Lyman served as chairman of the board of commissioners, as chairman of the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, as a member of the Pension Finance and Inter-governmental Relations Committee and Native American Relations Subcommittee in NACO (the National Association of Counties). While commissioner he helped to establish the San Juan County Public Health Department which brought services to the Southeast Corner of Utah and especially to the Navajos living on the Utah portion of the Utah Navajo Reservation. Lyman has been described as a firebrand in the State Legislature where he replaced another notable firebrand Mike Noel in 2019.[6]

Federal government protest

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In May 2014, Lyman organized an ATV protest ride in Recapture Canyon, which was closed to motorized vehicles by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect cultural artifacts.[7] Lyman and Monte Wells, a co-defendant, were later convicted of operating off-road vehicles on public lands closed to such vehicles.[8] The protest was seen by Lyman and his supporters as an act of civil disobedience against what they perceived as federal overreach and excessive regulation of public lands.[9]

Federal land management agencies and conservationists viewed the protest as a violation of established regulations aimed at preserving sensitive archaeological sites and protecting cultural resources.[10] Lyman and Wells faced trial, were found guilty, and sentenced to serve jail time, pay fines, and undergo probation.[11] Their convictions stemmed from their role in organizing and publicizing the protest ride, despite the BLM's closure of the area.[12] The legal proceedings underscored the clash between local interests advocating for increased access to public lands and federal authorities responsible for enforcing land use regulations and protecting natural and cultural resources.[13]

While Lyman and his supporters viewed the protest as a legitimate form of dissent against what they perceived as federal overreach, federal prosecutors argued that the protest constituted a deliberate violation of established laws and regulations governing public land use, a view supported by Judge David Nuffer who presided over the case.[14] Lyman attempted to challenge his conviction, arguing that the BLM lacked authority to close the route. However, his motion for a new trial was denied by Judge Nuffer, the federal judge overseeing the case.[15] The legal challenges highlighted the broader legal and jurisdictional issues surrounding federal land management policies and the extent of federal authority over public lands.[16] While Lyman and his supporters questioned the legality of the closure and the authority of federal agencies to regulate public land use, federal prosecutors and conservationists maintained that the closures were necessary to protect sensitive archaeological sites and preserve cultural resources for future generations.[17]

In December 2020, President Donald Trump granted clemency to Phil Lyman, along with several other individuals. Lyman expressed gratitude for the pardon, viewing it as a correction of past injustice related to his conviction.[18] The presidential pardon reignited debates over the appropriateness of pardoning individuals convicted of environmental and public land management-related offenses.[19] While Lyman and his supporters welcomed the pardon as a vindication of their opposition to federal land management policies, critics viewed it as undermining the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations and setting a dangerous precedent for future acts of civil disobedience on public lands.[20]

2022 sponsored legislation

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Bill Status
HB 261- Civil Commitment Revisions Governor signed 3/24/22
HB 285- Open and Public Meetings Act Violations House/ filed 3/4/22
HB 286- Mining Surety Requirements House/ filed 3/4/22
HB 343- Water Supply Amendments House/ filed 3/4/22
HB 371- Voting Revisions House/ filed 3/4/22
HB 414- Conflict of Interest Amendments House/ filed 3/4/22
HB 445- Homeowners Association Amendments House/ filed 3/4/22
HJR 10- Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Inherent and Inalienable Rights House/ filed 3/4/22

Electoral history

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Utah House of Representatives District 73 General Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil Lyman 9,388 67.37%
Independent Marsha Holland 4,528 32.53%
Total votes 13,916 100.0
Republican hold
Utah House of Representatives District 73 General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil Lyman (incumbent) 14,518 100.0%
Total votes 14,518 100.0
Republican hold
Utah House of Representatives District 69 General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil Lyman (incumbent) 11,170 58.98%
Democratic Davina Smith 7,766 41.02%
Total votes 18,936 100.0
Republican hold
Utah Gubernatorial Election Republican Primary, 2024[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Spencer Cox (incumbent)
Deidre Henderson (incumbent) 		232,164 54.40%
Republican Phil Lyman
Natalie Clawson 		194,639 45.60%
Total votes 426,803 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ "Rep. Lyman, Phil".
  2. ^ "Phil Lyman". Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Legislature. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  3. ^ Beal-Cvetko, Bridger (October 30, 2023). "State Rep. Phil Lyman announces run for governor". KSL-TV. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  4. ^ @KingForUtah (August 15, 2024). "While @phil_lyman and I disagree on just about everything, there's one thing we agree on: @SpencerJCox should not be our next Governor" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "Phil Lyman". Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Legislature. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  6. ^ Tanner, Courtney (April 21, 2018). "San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman clinches GOP nomination to replace retiring Rep. Mike Noel". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  7. ^ Hales, David (May 4, 2015). "San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman says he was duped into riding ATV into closed canyon". Deseret News. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Davies, Matt (May 4, 2015). "Recapture Canyon: ATV Ride for Access". High Country News. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "San Juan County commissioner says ATV ride was civil disobedience". Fox 13 News. December 18, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Wren, Christopher (October 23, 2015). "San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman sentenced to 10 days in jail, $96K restitution for ATV ride". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "Judge sentences San Juan Commissioner Phil Lyman to 10 days in jail, 3 years of probation". Deseret News. December 18, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  12. ^ "Recapture Canyon ride defendants ordered to pay nearly $96K". Deseret News. December 18, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Davies, Matt (May 4, 2015). "Recapture Canyon: ATV Ride for Access". High Country News. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  14. ^ Walch, Tad (October 23, 2015). "Judge declines new trial for Utah county commissioner in ATV case". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Walch, Tad (October 23, 2015). "Judge declines new trial for Utah county commissioner in ATV case". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  16. ^ Wren, Christopher (October 23, 2015). "San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman sentenced to 10 days in jail, $96K restitution for ATV ride". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  17. ^ Davies, Matt (May 4, 2015). "Recapture Canyon: ATV Ride for Access". High Country News. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  18. ^ "Trump pardons Utah County Commissioner Phil Lyman". Deseret News. December 22, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  19. ^ "Trump pardons Utah County Commissioner Phil Lyman". Deseret News. December 22, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "Trump pardons Utah County Commissioner Phil Lyman". Deseret News. December 22, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  21. ^ "2024 Primary Election Republican for Governor". Retrieved July 6, 2024.
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