SALT LAKE CITY—State Officials and legislators gave Utah Speaker of the House Brad Wilson a big send off at the Capitol Wednesday on his last day of service in the legislature. Wilson was elected to the legislature in 2011 and has served as Speaker since 2019. During that time he championed legislation to address the issues of the Great Salt Lake.

“In light of Brad’s tireless efforts to preserve and protect the iconic Great Salt Lake, we are naming an airboat in his honor,” Gov. Spencer Cox said. “It’s not a fancy or new boat but a workhorse that supports activities on the lake like search and rescue, invasive species eradication, water sampling and more. We appreciate Brad for helping to raise awareness of the lake’s importance and supporting actions to protect it.”

“I have worked with Brad for nearly 12 years,” said Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson. “I have great respect for him, his leadership and the way he has served Utahns. I appreciate his willingness to be at the forefront of the historic efforts being made to preserve the Great Salt Lake.”

“It’s kind of a wistful day,” said Wilson at his last press conference. “It’s been a wonderful 13 years. We have remarkable people here.”

Wilson said on his first day he walked into the House Chamber and thought it would be a place he would be for a few years. “I thought I’d show up (serve) and then leave. Little did I know that I’d be in this corner office for five years.”

People serve here for a season, make a difference then go back to their lives, he said. “What makes Utah unique is we are one of the last states in the country that has a true citizen legislature. It’s our secret sauce to lawmaking. Legislators really do serve part time and then look back at what they did in the lives of Utahns.”

It’s been a fun experience, said Wilson. “I’ve had the chance to leave a fingerprint on some things. I’m proud of what we did with the Inland Port and moving the state prison. It’s unleashing the economy to develop jobs for Utahns along the Wasatch Front.”

It’s not without controversy, he said. “I believe that good things come with some controversy.”

Wilson said he is proud of the prosperity the state has had. “We’ve made a billion dollars in tax cut relief. Middle class families are struggling with inflation. The tax cut will help them be able to manage that.”

Utah has one of the strongest economies in the country and the lowest unemployment rate, he said. “I believe in small government and low taxes. That’s what keeps the economy strong. You can see that by how much people want to live here. It’s the best way to get things done.”

Another big policy Wilson said he’s proud of is higher education reform. “The last few years there have been two systems. Now there is one. There are 16 institutions that are all rowing in the same direction. The benefit is a win for students across the state.”

Rep. Mike Schultz was elected as Speaker of the House on Tuesday. “I’m excited about Rep. Schultz becoming Speaker,” said Wilson. “I feel so good because I know that when I’m gone things will just get better and better.”

Wilson said he loves policy. “It’s in my nature to take a complicated issue that is impossible to fix and find a solution. That is what I’ll miss but I’ll miss the people more.”

Those are some musings of the soon to be, has-been Speaker of the House, Wilson said. “I’m excited for my next adventure.”