View Full Ed Mayne photo set

photos

See photos on the Utah Senate Democrats website.

This is the first part of the video. Over the next few weeks we will post remaining tribute videos including an amazing interview tribute created by Bonneville.

Tribute to my Father, Ed Mayne from Paul Mayne on Vimeo.

Deseret News: Women picked to fill 2 legislative vacancies

In Senate District 5, which comprises Kearns, West Valley City and Taylorsville, delegates selected Karen Mayne to fill the position of her late husband, Ed Mayne. She ran unopposed.

The new legislators will be sworn in before the start of the 2008 Legislature session begins in January.

Mayne, the only candidate seeking the Senate District 5 seat, vowed to carry on her husband’s legacy.

“My husband and I always worked as a team to take care of this district,” she said Wednesday. “This is just a natural thing for me, and my delegates feel the same.”

Mayne plans to focus on west-side issues, including better roads, more environmental protection and senior citizen care, she said. Mobile home issues are also important to her constituents, she said.

“We’re going to take care of our Senate district,” she said. (read full article)

Salt Lake Tribune: Democratic delegates elect Becker, Mayne replacements

Karen Mayne was also selected to fill the Utah Senate seat that had been held by her husband, the late Sen. Ed Mayne, who died earlier this month of lung cancer. Karen Mayne was unopposed. (read full article)

Salt Lake Tribune: Center to be renamed for Ed Mayne

Kearns already has a “Mayne” street. Now the west-side suburb will get a Mayne senior center, too.
The Salt Lake County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to rename the Kearns Senior Center after Ed Mayne, the late Democratic union boss and West Valley City state senator who fought to get the building built.
“It is by far the least we could do for Eddie and what he has done for the community,” said Republican Councilman Michael Jensen, who represents the county’s western fringe. “He was a great man who did a ton for the west side of Salt Lake County and the state of Utah.” (full article)

Deseret News: Salt Lake County names center after Mayne

County officials said the senior center, located at 4850 W. 4715 South, likely would not have been built without his leadership. (full article)

Excerpt Pignanelli: The media reports detailing Ed Mayne’s life focused on his legislative and labor movement achievements, which were impressive. But Ed was more than just an officeholder or advocate. He played numerous roles: conscience to Utah politicians and employers; papa bear to the Democratic Party while overseeing its resurrection in the mid-1980s; mentoring numerous young politicos (including Randy Horiuchi, Blaze Wharton, Kelly Atkinson, Janet Rose, Grant Protzman, Kurt Oscarson, Gene Davis, Dave Spatafore, Wayne Holland, D’Arcy Dixon and me); and playing peacemaker during our incessant fractional squabbles. He and his incredible wife, Karen, set the standard of coequal political partners who loved and respected each other-long before Bill and Hillary were known. No one was prouder of his children. But we gravitated to Ed for deeper causes.

Excerpt Webb: Ed Mayne clearly exemplified those two traits. I was obviously not in his circle of friends, but I interacted with him on many occasions and always found him to be warm, gracious, genuine and willing to listen.

Over the years I have dealt with many people of wealth and power. Some of them were unhappy and miserable.

A great lesson of Mayne’s full, rich and happy life is something we all know, but too often forget in our busy, try-to-get-ahead world. It is that in the end what really matters, what is most important, is relationships. Family. Friends. Love. Caring. Service. The simple secrets to a happy and fulfilling life.

Read Full Article

Many of you know my brother, Ed Mayne, as a great statesman, senator and AFL-CIO leader. These wonderful qualities began many years ago.

I have always loved Ed’s big, warm hands and his kind and gentle eyes. Ed was the oldest of four children and then he had three little sisters. He would do anything to protect and watch over us all, and through the years that remained the same. He taught us so much as a family: how to stay unified, to help others, to be kind.

I was humbled that even through his fight with cancer and during his chemo treatments his conversations were never about himself. His determination to make sure that others were being taken care of, from senior citizens to children and animals, never ended. He loved his family and the people of this great state. He was a man of honor who found more joy in giving to others than anything he could ever give to himself. We have all been truly blessed to call him family, brother and friend.

I know in my heart we will all feel his big, warm hands in ours as he continues to watch over us, with his kind and gentle eyes, from heaven. Knowing my brother, he will say, “I have a great view to do just that.”

Shauna Petersen
Taylorsville
Salt Lake Tribune Public Forum Letter

In friendship and deep appreciation, the family of Senator Ed Mayne would like to extend a sincere thank you for the love and support shown to them the past several months. We so appreciate the support given to Ed throughout the years he had the opportunity of representing this great community.

As a family, we are committed to continuing his legacy of good works and dedicated service to his constituents.

Sincerely,
Karen Mayne
Paul and Jana Mayne
Jamie and Trever Jennings
Red and Ruth Mayne
Connie and Craig Webb
Shauna and Mike Petersen
Terry Glover
Phil and Barbara Hibler

Front Page of the Salt Lake Tribune: Mayne hailed as champion of underprivileged - By Glen Warchol

excerpts: Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. remembered working with Mayne in the last year to find ways of funding better pay for teachers and health care for the poor.
“He will be remembered for bringing hope and healing to every corner of this state,” Huntsman told a few hundred mourners, including Republican U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson, and dozens of state and local office holders.

But the most touching memories were of a man with a “heart so big,” who loved his family, fast food, poker, ducks on the wing and a golden retriever named Chance.

Mayne’s son Paul recited his father’s favorite prayer: “Bless the unemployed that they find work. Bless the homeless that they find shelter. And bless the children.”
Mayne was born in Magna in 1945 and graduated from Granger High School. He worked in Kennecott Copper’s Bingham Canyon mine. Mayne became active in the local chapter of the United Steel Workers of America and was elected president in 1977. At the age of 32, he became the leader of Utah’s AFL-CIO…

Paul Mayne said his father loved Christmas to the point he chose Christmas songs as cell phone ring tones and played holiday music in his car year around. Mayne was never happier than in his duck blind in the wetlands near Salt Lake International Airport.
“My father lived a great life, and he loved his life,” Paul Mayne said. (full article)

Deseret News: Ed Mayne’s magnanimity spotlighted at his funeral by Lisa Riley Roche

WEST VALLEY CITY — Ed Mayne always looked out for the little guy, a quality his family and friends recalled Friday at services for the late state senator and longtime labor leader.

“My dad was a man of the people,” Mayne’s son, Paul, told the nearly 1,000 people including political and union leaders gathered in the lofty hall of West Valley’s Cultural Celebration Center.

The prayers of the AFL-CIO president and influential Democrat always ended with a special blessing for the unemployed, the homeless and others in need, Paul said, describing his father as a man who also enjoyed a trip to Wendover to play the slot machines.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a Republican, praised Mayne for focusing as a lawmaker on issues aimed at lifting, promoting, healing and offering hope “to the corners of the community that need it most.”

Better known as “Eddie,” Mayne, 62, died of cancer Sunday at his West Valley home, surrounded by his family. He had served as a state senator since 1994 and was assistant minority whip.

Salt Lake County Councilman Randy Horiuchi said that while both he and Mayne liked to exaggerate, the simple truth is that “Ed Mayne did more for everyday Utahns than any public official in the history of the state.”

In addition to the legislation and labor initiatives that Mayne was directly involved in, Horiuchi said the “Great Oz” was often instrumental behind the scenes in getting projects funded, such as a senior center in Kearns.

Horiuchi, too, said that Mayne had a special touch with those who most needed help. “He was their hero.”

Another Democrat, Blaze Wharton, a former state senator who first met Mayne 30 years ago, said he “never disregarded or dismissed anyone” and earned the respect and even the affection of the state’s dominant GOP.

And Wharton said that although he counted their close relationship as one of the most important in his life, it was not unique. He said many of the men and women in the audience — some in business suits, some in work clothes — shared the same relationship with Mayne.

Mayne’s daughter, Jamie Jennings, tearfully recited the lyrics to her father’s favorite song, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” and said he was always willing to help someone out. “Nothing was too much for him. … He always did it with open arms.”

Paul, too, had to repeatedly wipe away tears as he spoke. He said while his father was seen publicly as a tough negotiator and politician, “when he came home and the cowboy boots came off, he was a real softy.”

A huge fan of the Christmas season, Mayne kept a holiday ringtone on his cell phone throughout the year. He loved to eat, Paul said, and would often take family and friends on fast-food runs that included multiple stops.

Sports were how Mayne relaxed, Paul said, ranging from fantasy football to duck hunting with his beloved golden retriever dogs. At the end, Paul said, his father told him to “look down the third-base line. I’ll always be there.”

Mayne was buried at Valley View Memorial Park in West Valley City. A fund-raiser intended to benefit his family as well as other cancer patients will be held Tuesday and will include tributes from Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and others.

Hatch was among the public officials present Friday, along with the only Democrat in Utah’s congressional delegation, Rep. Jim Matheson, and many current and former state lawmakers. (full article)

Other Articles:

• Fox Utah: Thousands [sic] Gather to Remember Utah Senator Ed Mayne
• Mayne the compassionate - Public Forum Letter

Utah’s working families say goodbye to Ed Mayne ABC4 Utah

A long line of people gathered at the Union Labor Center on Redwood Road to pay their last respects to Ed Mayne. The Utah state senator and president of the state AFL-CIO passed away Sunday at the age of 62.

His friends explain why the turnout was so large,” AFL-CIO president Jim Judd says,” Ed had a passion that he threw into everything that he did whether it was serving on a county council, being the president of the state AFL-CIO or being a state senator, he touched so many lives.”

Many of those who were touched by Mayne waited patiently to say goodbye Wednesday night. Two firefighting honor guards flanked Mayne’s open casket, while his wife Karen greeted the well-wishers. Mayne was a fearless legislator and labor leader who always stood tall for working men and women. Mike Fredrickson of the Salt Lake City Fire Department says,” He was a gentle giant that could reach across party lines. He was a Democrat but all the Republicans liked him too. He was just a great man.”

Many people Wednesday night called Ed Mayne a great man, but his daughter Jamie just called him dad. She told us what she’ll miss the most about her father. Jamie Jennings says,” Probably his heart. He fought for everything he believed in to the very last breath. He helped the people who couldn’t help themselves.” Mike Fredrickson says,” That was his motto. To make sure that every working man got their wages and working conditions taken care of.”

The crowds are expected to be even larger Thursday night when visitation is held at the state capitol. Mayne will be buried Friday in West Valley. (full article / video)

Eddie, as Mayne was known to all who knew him, was a character.

But also a man of character.

Elected as the then-youngest state president of the AFL-CIO in his early 30s, Eddie was a fixture on Capitol Hill long before he won a Senate seat in 1994 from his much-beloved Salt Lake County west side.

A fighter for the “working man and woman,” Eddie, a big man with a big heart, would drive up to the Capitol in a huge, American/union-made car and walk the halls in a swinging motion, talking to everyone.

There are a lot of lovely Eddie Mayne stories. I have but a few. (full article)

Mayne a champion for victim by Paul Rolly
Salt Lake Tribune

Since the death of Sen. Ed Mayne on Sunday, praise for his accomplishments and his compassion for the less fortunate has been streaming in from friends and colleagues.
But few have as personal a memory for the Democratic lawmaker and labor leader’s big heart as Jennifer Boone.
She was kidnapped and raped 10 years ago when she was 15. Her assailant was caught nearly five years later trying to kidnap another child. She picked him out of a lineup and he was convicted of kidnapping her. But she felt like a victim a second time when she learned that he would not be charged with raping her because the four-year statute of limitations on rape had expired.
She became an advocate for a longer statute of limitations on rape, talking to legislators and state officials, who ignored her - until she contacted Mayne.
“He really cared,” she said this week. He introduced a bill to extend the statute of limitations to eight years. When he brought Boone to the Legislature to testify on behalf of the bill, the legislators were so moved that even the fact it was sponsored by a Democrat didn’t deter it from passing.
“It was too late for my case,” she said. “But he empowered me. He gave me the closest thing to justice I could get.” (full article)

Utah Labor Leader Will Be Missed By Utah Workers KUTV 2 News

“The absence of Ed will be a huge void in my life, I’m not sure I’ll ever get over,” says Allan Ayoub of the AFL-CIO of Utah.

Ed Mayne’s office is empty, yet still alive with reminders of a life of meetings with presidents, influential leaders and of special honors, but his passion was always the workers of Utah.

Jeff Worthington of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers says, “He wanted a fair wage for everybody, wanted everyone to have health and welfare.”

Ed Mayne was born and raised in Utah. He married his love Karen and grew his family here. He was a hard rock miner for 14 years. At the age of 31, he was the youngest person ever elected to head a state AFL-CIO. For 30 years, he rallied laborers and helped strengthen unions in a state not friendly to organized labor.

“People began to accept organized labor in a totally different manner,” says Ayoub. (full article with video)

KVNU’s For The People

We’ll talk with Rob Miller, Vice Chair of the Utah Democratic Party and proprietor of UtahAmicus.com about the recent passing of State Senator Ed Mayne as well as other issues. (listen)

Friends Remember State Sen. Ed Mayne KSL 5 News

“He was a constant fighter for the disadvantaged,” Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich said. “He always looked out for the working person — union or non-union.”

Dmitrich remembered Mayne as a very hard, tough lobbyist who wasn’t afraid to push hard for his cause. As a lawmaker, Dmitrich said Mayne was just as determined, but always had the respect of his opponents.

“He was probably the most compassionate, loving person you would ever know,” Dmitrich said. (video + comments)

As a state senator and labor leader, he fought for things like a higher minimum wage, senior centers and ball fields for kids.

“That’s what life is all about. Judge me by my works. Judge me by the things I’ve done to help others,” said Mayne.

Randy Horiuchi, a close friend adds, “I am not certain there is a human being in the history of the state of Utah who have effected more people in a positive way than Ed Mayne.”

I was a bright high school student, and by the time I had reached my junior year I figured I was going places. I was a good student with decent grades, great test scores, and an Ok record in debate. In order to improve my chances to get into college, I figured going to one of the summer schools run by colleges was just the thing. One in particular caught my eye: this summer school at Georgetown run by the Junior Statesmen of America.

Attendance, of course, is not cheap. So much so that they include a Fundraising Packet with their other informational materials. Naturally, I applied for the scholarship and didn’t get it, so I had to turn to fundraising. Now, IRL I’m a rather shy person, so you can imagine that I’m not very good at asking people for money. I think I may have contacted a dozen people in all. One of my teachers had helped to identify philanthropic individuals in the community to contact, so I had better than zero odds, but none of the people we had brainstormed about I gave any money nor much of a response. At some later point, I figured, “What the Hell, I’ll try a couple of politicians. They should be able to see the value in sending someone to a school like that.” So, I contacted two State Senators. The result was the only donations I got for my efforts: two from Ed Mayne (one from him, personally, and one from the AFL-CIO) and one from Millie Peterson. It is worth noting that I was not one of Ed Mayne’s constituents.

In the end I did get to go, thanks to the generosity of these two and of my parents. (full blog post)

Our devoted husband, father, son, brother, grandfather and friend, Eddie Paul Mayne, 62, passed away peacefully at home on November 25, 2007, surrounded by his loving family.

Ed was born on September 16, 1945, in Bingham Canyon, Utah, son of Rolland (Red) and Ruth Oliver Mayne. He married Karen Marie Hibler on September 21, and are the parents of two children. They shared their loving companionship for 39 years. Ed attended Granger High School, Snow College and the University of Utah. He received an honorary doctorate degree from Salt Lake Community College.

Ed was noted in a recent interview as one of the most influential Democrats in the State of Utah. He served as a State Senator since 1994, where he remained dedicated to the people in his district and guaranteed that their concerns and needs were heard and acted upon. He also proudly served as Utah State AFL-CIO President since 1977 and fulfilled his commitment to his fellow brothers and sisters with loyalty and honor.

During Ed’s career, he was a consumer advocate to the Federal Reserve Bank Of San Francisco representing Utah and nine other western states. Other committee’s include the United Way Executive Committee ; Workers Compensation Legislative Advisory Board; Blue Cross Blue Shield Executive Board; University of Utah Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, and numerous other influential committees.

Ed was asked by then-SLC Olympic Organizer Mitt Romney, to carry the Winter Olympic Torch through Kearns. Ed was one of just three known public elected officials in the nation to have carried the Olympic Torch in 2002.

In 1993, “Ed Mayne Street” was dedicated as a tribute for his community service to Salt Lake County and his help in developing Oquirrh Hill Park across from Kearns High School. In recognition for his support to the schools within his district, Granite School Board is dedicating the Hunter High Football stadium in his name.

Ed is survived by his devoted wife, Karen; children, Paul (Jana) Mayne; Jamie (Trever) Jennings; parents, Red and Ruth Mayne; sisters, Connie (Craig) Webb; Shauna (Mike) Petersen; Terry Glover, and brother-in-law Phil (Barbara) Hibler. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Jackson, Maddy, Eli, and several nieces and nephews. Ed will be missed by all those that knew and loved him.

Funeral services will be held:

• Friday, November 30, 2007 at 11:00 am at the West Valley City Cultural Celebration Center (3100 South 1355 West).

Viewings will be held:

• Wednesday, November 28, 2007, from 6-8 pm at the Utah Labor Center ( 2261 South Redwood Road), and
• Thursday, November 29, 2007, in the Senate Chamber at the State Capitol from 6-8 pm.

The family would like to thank the many dedicated doctors and nurses who cared for Ed over the past several months, and a special thank you to Tony and Sandy Montano. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the United Way of Salt Lake City, the Caring Foundation for Children, the Utah Cancer Specialists, the Golden Retriever Rescue Center, or a charity of your choice in Ed’s name.

A Tribute to Ed’s life will be celebrated on Tuesday December 4. For more information, please visit the following website: www.edmayne.com.