LAYTON — It means no time on the backhoe or checking the state’s largest tree farm.

But Utah’s newest state senator, Jerry Stevenson, appears to be getting settled in to his new role up at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City.

The former three-term Layton mayor was sworn in to his new duties on the first day of the 2010 legislative session, Jan. 25. By a vote of his senate district delegates and confirmation from the governor, he has replaced former Sen. Sheldon Killpack, who resigned.

“Sheldon was very wise,” Stevenson said. “This session could’ve been focused much more on him than it should’ve been,” had he not bowed out.

Killpack was arrested in mid-January on an alleged drunk driving charge and resigned about a day later. He had served as Senate Majority Leader and represented Senate District 21, which covers northwest Davis County.

Stevenson was chosen from a field of five candidates who had formally applied for consideration. They were Layton residents Erik Bornemeir and Jory R. Francis, Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, and Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clinton.

“I would’ve been pleased no matter what the outcome, said Shirley Bouwhuis, County Republican Chair.

“They moved me three times,” Stevenson said referring to a parking stall at the Capitol. “I do have a good one now. It’s probably a stroke of luck.”

On his first day in the Legislature, he was holed up for a while at a desk in the hall, as he hadn’t yet received his seating assignment.

He has been seated next to Sen. Stuart Adams, who served as a council member when Stevenson was mayor.

“Now he’s got seniority. He’s been there two months and four days, and I’ve been there four days,” he joked.

Stevenson replaced former Sen. Greg Bell of Fruit Heights, when he was tapped as lieutenant governor.

The state’s newest senator is already chairing a committee, the Senate Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Committee.

He is also already spearheading three bills through the session, including one that would tweak language for MIDA (Military Installation Development Authority). He has co-chaired that body while Adams has chaired it.

“Procedure and protocol need some work” on his part, Stevenson admitted. “But when it comes to the basic understanding of everything, from special districts to hauling of waste, all the services government provides, I’ve got a pretty basic understanding.

“I’ve got a good understanding of how it (state legislation) affects city and county government, and how it affects citizens,” he said.

“I’m not a stranger down here, even in the legislative analyst’s office,” the freshman senator said. “Both in the Senate and the House, I’ve made contacts over the years and had people there I’ve worked with.

“After the first couple of days, I probably raised the deer-in-the-headlights scenario to a whole new level,” Stevenson said.

He owns and manages J&J Nursery & Produce in Layton with his brother, David Stevenson. “I’ve talked with my people in the business. I’m just not going to be there, only with important decisions (during the session). I will check in once a day.”

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com