Utah senator resigns after being offered Trump administration post

Sen. Brian Shiozawa is resigning from the Utah State Legislature after being sworn in as regional director for the U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services, he announced Monday. Photo Courtesy: Facebook

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 11, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — State Senator Brian Shiozawa is resigning from the Utah State Legislature after being sworn in as regional director for the U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services, he announced Monday.

Shiozawa, R-Salt Lake City, will serve as the personal representative of the secretary for the states of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, he said in a Facebook post, and will be based out of Denver.

His post reads as follows:

On Dec. 11, 2017 I was sworn in as the regional director of intergovernmental and external affairs of District 8 of the U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services. As a Presidential appointee, I will serve as the personal representative of the secretary for the states of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. As regional director, I will ensure the department maintains close contact with state, local and tribal partners and address the needs of communities and individuals in these states. This role is based out of Denver, and I am excited for this new calling and opportunity to serve.

Consequently, I have retired from my career as a physician and I am resigning from my position in the Utah Senate, effective immediately. I want to thank my wife Joye and my family for their love, support and sacrifice these many years. Because of them, I have been able to serve in so many different capacities. We have had a wonderful journey together with great memories and remarkable accomplishments.

I want to thank my patients for the privilege of being their physician and for their trust in me with their health care needs. I want to thank my fellow physicians, nurses and staff at St. Marks Hospital where I practiced for over 27 years. This a great hospital and emergency department with hard working staff devoted to helping others.

I want to thank the citizens of Utah Senate District 8 for whom I have had the honor to serve these two terms. While my role with you will now be different, I am honored to serve in this new capacity and will strive to continue to serve this great state in all the ways I can.

We face big challenges like never before. But I am confident that together, we can reason, work and bring forth positive change in healthcare in our state and nation.

Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information becomes available.

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