Gov. Spencer Cox Appoints Lonny Pehrson as First Director of Utah’s Government Records Office
Salt Lake City – June 3, 2025 – Governor Spencer Cox has officially appointed Lonny Pehrson as the inaugural director of Utah’s new Government Records Office, a position aimed at streamlining public records access and facilitating timely responses to requests. Pehrson, who previously served as government records counsel for the Utah Attorney General’s Office, will need Senate confirmation for his appointment.
Governor Cox expressed optimism about Pehrson’s legal expertise and his commitment to good governance, stating, “We look forward to the Government Records Office streamlining the appeals process and helping Utahns get timely answers to their records requests.” This new initiative follows the disbanding of the citizen-led State Records Committee earlier this year, which has since transitioned into a single Government Records Officer to handle disputes over public records requests and train local government records officers.
However, this transition has led to concerns about a backlog of cases, with around 70 cases unresolved during the last Records Committee meeting in April. Many observers, including media and journalism experts, point out that the effectiveness of the new office will largely depend on Pehrson’s approach to transparency—a point of contention given his past resistance to releasing certain government records. Notably, in 2023, he was criticized for denying access to former Attorney General Sean Reyes’ calendars, a ruling later overturned by the state judiciary.
In response to his appointment, Pehrson stated his eagerness to establish the Government Records Office, emphasizing its role in facilitating lawful access to public records. His appointment is seen as both a fresh start and a pivotal moment for transparency in Utah state governance.
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