Jani Iwamoto

Jani Iwamoto is a former Democratic member of the Utah Senate, representing the 4th District. Previously she served as a council member of the Salt Lake County Council.[1]

Jani Iwamoto
Member of the Utah Senate
from the 4th district
In office
January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byPatricia W. Jones
Succeeded byStephanie Pitcher (Redistricting)
Personal details
BornSalt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseSteve
ProfessionAttorney

Personal life, education, and career

Iwamoto was born and raised in Salt Lake County. She graduated from Highland High School and got a degree in mass communications from the University of Utah. She then obtained a legal degree from University of California at Davis. After graduation she practiced law as a partner and litigator in northern California. After living in California for several years she moved back to Utah. Once back in Utah she became more politically active. She first began working with the No! coalition, which sought to keep high level nuclear waste out of Utah. Later she was appointed by Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. to serve on the Central Utah Water Conservancy District Board of Trustees, and the Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Committee. Iwamoto is married and has two children, she currently resides in Holladay, Utah.[2]

Political career

Iwamoto's first elected position was serving on the Salt Lake County Council as a councilmember. She served from 2009-2013. In 2014 she ran for the Utah State 4th district Senate seat, and won.[3] Since 2014 she has been serving as the senator for this district. In 2018 she was elected Assistant Minority Whip by the Democrats in the Utah Senate.[4][5]

In 2016, Senator Iwamoto served on the following committees in the legislature

  • Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
  • Senate Ethics Committee
  • Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee
  • Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
  • Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee

Electoral history
2014 Utah State Senate election District 4[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sabrina Peterson 13,084 40
Democratic Jani Iwamoto 19,602 60

Legislation

2016 sponsored bills
Bill Title and Number

Bill Status

S.B. 81 Redistricting Advisory CommissionSenate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016
S.B. 140 Home and Community-Based Services AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/28/2016
S.B. 185 Labor Ready AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/21/2016
S.B. 192 Study on Claims Exceeding Statutory LimitGovernor Signed 3/18/2016
S.B. 196 Retail Bag Impact Reduction Program Senate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016
S.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution Honoring Those Who Have Assisted Korean War Veterans Governor Signed 2/12/2016
S.C.R 13 Concurrent Resolution Honoring Randy Horiuchi Governor Signed 3/28/2016

Notable legislation

In 2016 Senator Iwamoto sponsored a bill that would have charged a dime for the use of plastic or paper bags. The bill did not pass, but Senator Iwamoto has said she will bring the bill back and attempt to pass it again during the 2017 legislative session.[7]

References
  1. "District 4 Senator - Utah State Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  2. "Jani Iwamoto". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  3. "JANI IWAMOTO ELECTED TO UTAH STATE SENATE," The Rafu Shimpo, Los Angeles Japanese Daily News, November 19, 2014
  4. "Utah Senate Democrats shake up leadership," Fox 13, November 9, 2018
  5. "District 4 Senator - Utah State Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  6. "Jani Iwamoto - Ballotpedia". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  7. "The Utah State Legislature's done. Here's what they did to your life". fox13now.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
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