Quick Facts
Biography
Karen Mayne is a Democratic member of the Utah Senate, who has represented the 5th District (map) in West Valley City since her appointment in 2008. She is the widow of former State Senator Ed Mayne.
Early life, education, and career
Mayne is a graduate of Chamber West Leadership Center and attended Henagers Business College. She worked for 20 years as a Granite School District Para-educator and is retired from that position. Throughout her career as a Para-educator, she won the Para-educator of the Year, the American Federation of Teachers, the Lucy Beth Rampton Award for Community Service, and the Service to Community Award. Karen is the mother of two children, Paul (Jana) and Jamie (Trevor), and a grandmother of six grandchildren. Mayne is a lifelong resident of the West side of Salt Lake Valley.
Political career
Before her position as Senator, Mayne was active in PTA, local baseball and football organizations, and numerous political and community activities. Her political career has included positions in the following organizations:
- Democratic Women’s Club, Member and Past President
- Kearns Recreation Center, Board Member
- Legacy of Learning – Workers’ Compensation Fund, Member
- Supporter of Women in the Trades – Promoting Non-Traditional Occupations for Women
- Workers Compensation Advisory Council
- Advisory Board for SLCC
- United Way Policy Board
- Intermountain Healthcare Giving Group (executive board)
- Lucy Beth Rampton Award for Public Service
- UTA Board of Directors
- Habitat for Humanity Board Member
- Eleanor Roosevelt Award
- Rocky Mt. Occupation and Health Center
- Senate Liaison to Utah Workers Compensation Advisory Board
- Labor and Economic Development Commission for the National Conference of State Legislatures
- Women in Government (director)
- WCF Presidential Safety Award
- Salt Lake City Airport Authority Board Member
Upon Senator Ed Mayne's death (Karen Mayne's husband) in 2007, Mayne was appointed to his senate seat. Since then, she has been elected in 2008 and 2010 as a Democrat. In 2014, she served as the Assistant Minority Whip, and beginning in 2015 she has served as the Senate Minority Whip.
In 2016, Mayne served on the following committees:
- Executive Appropriations Committee
- Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee
- Retirement and Independent Entities Appropriations Subcommittee
- Senate Business and Labor Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Senate Retirement & Independent Entities Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Senate Transportation & Public Utilities & Technology Committee
- Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
During her service as Senator, Mayne has won a number of awards, including the Elenor Roosevelt Distinguished Woman of the Year Award, Legislator of the Year Award From Salt Lake Community College, Utah School Nurse Association Appreciation Award, “Hero on the Hill,” from the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities, Firefighters’ Legislator of the Year, Workers Compensation Fund President’s Award, the Sunshine Award (given for protection of free speech and open government), Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Business Champion of 2013, and the Award of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health presented by the Rocky Mountain Center.
Election results
In 2014 Mayne was unopposed in the primary. During the general election she had a challenger who dropped out before the election and won unopposed.
2008
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jonathan Fidler | 6,641 | 32.7 | ||
| Democratic | Karen Mayne | 13,676 | 67.3 | ||
2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel Fidler | 4,705 | 38 | ||
| Democratic | Karen Mayne | 8,492 | 62 | ||
Legislation
2016 sponsored bills
Notable legislation
In 2014, Senator Mayne sponsored S.B. 36 which only allows certain groups, such as political parties and health care providers, to access voter birth dates. It also restricts their use of that information for verifying identities or political purposes, such as urging support for a candidate. The Governor signed this bill into law.In 2016 Senator Mayne sponsored a bill, which will create a feasibility study to determine how postal service workers can be utilized to aid with emergency response efforts. This bill was supported by Representative Jason Chaffetz as part of his effort to make the postal service more universal.