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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Former LDS Stake President and Utah House Speaker In Trouble
Salt Lake Tribune 28Feb00 D2
By John Heilprin: Salt Lake Tribune
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Utah legislator and former speaker of the
State House of Representatives Mel Brown has fallen a long way from
his glory days, and now the legislator is simply trying to get back
to stability. Just three years ago Brown had a 42-year-old marriage
and respect both as a state legislator and former LDS stake
president. Now he is leaving his political career this fall, has been
excommunicated from the LDS Church, and is facing a bitter divorce
which may cost him a farm that has been in his family for four
generations.
In addition, Brown has gotten into hot political water over accepting
a $230 personal check from a U.S. West lobbyist. While both Brown,
and the lobbyist, Dave Watson, call the transaction a harmless way to
help Brown get a cell phone, neither of them disclosed the
transaction in public disclosure forms, possibly in violation of the
law. Evidence from his divorce proceedings also indicates that he may
have been offered a lobbying job.
Brown's political troubles started first, just before he won
re-election in November 1998. The Salt Lake Tribune had reported on
the cell phone transaction, and Brown was investigated and exonerated
by the House,but he also abandoned his bid for a third term as
speaker. Then in December 1998 he separated from his wife. She filed
for divorce alleging adultery because of Brown's relationship with a
former legislative aide, Jill Kitchen. The relationship also led to
his excommunication.
Because the Brown's disagree over alimony, their divorce came to
trial. Jolene Brown, his ex-wife, is seeking higher alimony, which
would force him to sell the 285-acre farm that has been in his family
for four generations. Brown has a very strong attachment to the farm,
says Dairy farmer and House Majority Whip David Ure, "He truly loves
agriculture, he loves his animals and he loves the land," Brown
offered his ex-wife their Midvale home, half his retirement pension
and $300 a month in alimony. But Jolene Brown says that Brown gets
$17,000 a year in perks not reflected on wage statements, mostly from
the farm's relationship to a dairy owned by his brother.
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