Scott Howell (politician)

Early life, education and professional life

Scott was born in Provo, Utah. He grew up in Salt Lake City in a neighborhood with many prominent civic and ecclesiastical leaders, and he maintains close relationships with many of these people to this day.

Scott attended Dixie State College in Southern Utah on a football scholarship, and he graduated from the University of Utah in Political Science. After graduation, Scott went to work with IBM, where he advanced through the years until he became the director of Global System Integrators/Channel Strategies and the Executive of IBM Public Sector operations. In these roles, he helped governments worldwide increase effectiveness and efficiency through information technology.

In 2003 Scott completed a year of Harvard Executive Education to become an “IBM Certified Professional.” In 2006 Scott completed the IBM certification and became a “Master Deal Maker,” which was taught at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Internationally, Scott was a “Smart Communities” advocate, working to shape the future of the world’s community governments in today’s global technology revolution. In this role, he consulted with the governments of Australia, Japan, Italy, and Latvia.

He and his wife, Linda, are the parents of four sons.

Political career

Scott served in the Utah State Senate for three terms, including eight years as the Senate Democratic Leader. Under his guidance, Utah became one of the first states to utilize on-line government services, such as vehicle registration. In addition, he drew on his experience in business to make improvements in health care, transportation, public safety, and tax reform. A “life long learner” advocate, Scott used his skills to create solutions to the challenges of education. He championed the cause by passing great legislation to bring millions of dollars of technology equipment to the classroom, reduce class size, and have kindergarten as an important part of the public school agenda. Legislative committee assignments included Health and Human Services, Education, Government Innovation, Transportation, and Olympic Sports Authority. Senator Howell was a ranking member of the “Executive Appropriations Committee,” in charge of fiscal appropriations of Utah’s $1.3 billion annual budget.

2012 U.S. Senate election

At the Utah Democratic Convention on April 21, 2012 - Howell triumphed over challenger Pete Ashdown to secure the Utah Democratic Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate race against the incumbent senator, Orrin Hatch, Utah's six-term senator seeking his seventh. Howell did this after securing 63% of the vote at the convention in Salt Palace Convention Center. During his pre-convention campaign, Howell emphasized his electability, highlighting his position as a conservative Democrat who possessed the same socially conservative values as Utah voters.

Howell's 2012 campaign is running on three platforms: energy, education and the economy. In August 2012, Howell accused Hatch of "Ducking Debates," because Hatch failed to show up for debates against him and other candidates running in the 2012 U.S. Senate Race. Howell was quoted in the article as saying, "I believe he thinks the best way to keep his job is to not let people see they have a choice. I think he [Hatch] knows people will see that I’m the candidate that represents Utah the best." A few days later, the Salt Lake Tribune published an article calling for Hatch to be debating his opponents, "Utah voters deserve to see and hear the candidates air their differences up close." The article also referenced Hatch in his 1976 campaign by saying, "Hatch should agree to several debates well before voters have to make up their minds. Hatch thought that would be fair when he was trying to unseat an incumbent 36 years ago. He was right then, and fair is still fair," referencing when Hatch challenged the then incumbent senator, Frank Moss.

Community involvement

National memberships include the Harvard Policy Group at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, the United States Internet Council (Board Member), and the Democratic Leadership Council (which advocates free market solutions to government problems). Scott also served as an officer in the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and was nominated to and attended the Darden School of Business (University of Virginia) education program for leaders and “rising stars.” While in Utah, Scott served on the "2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Organizing Committee". In 1992 he was appointed as a Board Member to the "Intermountain Health Care" organization and served until 2002.

In 2007 Scott was appointed as a Trustee to the Board for Sutter Health. He also served as the president of his sons' high school lacrosse association and was the director of their high school's booster club. Scott worked with the Pioneer Park Coalition of Salt Lake City close thereafter to create a stable, productive environment in the Pioneer Park area.