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West Valley City Journal

Remembering state senator and west side advocate Karen Mayne

Sep 10, 2024 04:06PM ● By Tom Haraldsen

Utah Sen. Karen Mayne. (Photo courtesy of the Utah Legislature)

The last time this reporter spoke to Karen Mayne, the former Utah State Senate Minority Leader who passed away on Aug. 15, we were sitting at a Panda Express in West Valley City. We spoke about her plans to possibly do away with legal notices in Utah newspapers, an effort to save municipalities money for publishing ads that few if anybody read. I told her I disagreed, and that such notices were not only important for the populace, but a much-needed revenue source for the financially-suffering print industry.

We talked calmly and civilly, not just because we were friends, but because that’s the way Mayne always spoke—with empathy and understanding even to those she disagreed with. It was what made her such a successful political leader, educator, and advocate for the west side of the Salt Lake Valley for decades.

Mayne lost her two-plus year battle with brain cancer at the age of 78. She was diagnosed in January 2022 after she’d visited her doctor for a broken shoulder. A year later, she resigned from a Senate seat she’d held for 15 years, with legislators paying a tribute and giving her a standing ovation one month later when she returned to the chamber one last time.

She never planned on being in politics, though she was always by the side of her late husband, Sen. Ed Mayne, who died of cancer in 2007. She took his place in the Senate, and was a staunch supporter of labor unions and progressive causes. Between Ed and Karen, they represented west side residents for almost 30 years. She fought hard for improvements on the west side. If you’ve enjoyed the widened roadway on 5600 West where it crosses railroad tracks near 4700 South, you can thank Karen Mayne. 

A 2021 video produced by the Utah Senate shows how she and Ed managed their home life while raising two children, and her job as a para-educator, and a member of the American Federation of Teachers union. 

“Every Sunday night, we would sit down at the table,” Karen Mayne said. “OK, you’re going to speak here, I’m going to go here, take the kids here.’ So we worked together, and he always told me, ‘You’re a better politician. You should really run.’ I said, ‘No, it’s not my time.’” But that changed when Ed received his terminal diagnosis. He encouraged her to run for his seat, and continued his legacy of fighting for blue collar workers and workplace safety. 

“Karen was a friend and mentor to me during my eight years in the Utah Senate,” Republican Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “She was a genuinely compassionate woman who cared deeply about others, faithfully served her constituents and our state, and was one of the best people I’ve ever known.”

“Sen. Karen Mayne was a good friend,” Republican State Sen. Wayne Harper said. “She was a tenacious champion for the west side of Salt Lake County and a great advocate for and partner with me on transportation improvements. Her support for her constituents and dedication to workers was unparalleled and respected. I enjoyed serving with her as we tackled key west side and Utah issues. She will be missed.” 

She worked to secure money for Salt Lake Community College and to fund technical scholarships. Her support for students at Hunter High, like that of Ed Mayne, was recognized by the school’s football stadium named after them. 

In a joint statement from Senate President Stuart Adams, a Layton Republican, and Democrat Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla of Salt Lake City, they said Utah “lost an extraordinary stateswoman and one of our dearest friends. Sen. Karen Mayne was a trailblazer and exceptional leader who showed us how working together, despite political differences, can strengthen our state. Throughout her 15 years as a senator, she has passionately and successfully advocated for impactful improvements for our state. She was one of the most effective legislators and consistently passed the most bills during sessions.”

In her obituary, her family wrote: “Karen's passing is a significant loss to the community she served so faithfully. Her contributions to Utah will be remembered with deep gratitude. More than a public servant, Karen was a compassionate leader whose work will continue to inspire future generations.

“Beyond her professional achievements, Karen was a devoted wife and mother, finding her greatest joy in her family—her late husband Ed, son Paul (Jana), daughter Jamie (Trever), and her six grandchildren: Jackson, Maddy, Eli, Kennedy, Dylan and Amelia. Her love for them was unwavering, and she cherished every moment spent together.”

Funeral services for Karen Mayne were held in the Hunter High School auditorium on Aug. 31.