Paul Van Dam

R. Paul Van Dam (born October 15, 1937) is an American politician and attorney from the state of Utah. He attended East High School and graduated in 1955. Paul and his wife Mary Bailey are fifth-generation Utahns.[1] He served as Attorney General of Utah from 1989 to 1993, as a Democrat. He attended the University of Utah and is a former Salt Lake County district attorney.[2][3]

Paul Van Dam
17th Attorney General of Utah
In office
1989–1993
GovernorNorman Bangerter
Preceded byDan Wilkinson
Succeeded byJan Graham
Personal details
Born (1937-10-15) October 15, 1937
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Mary Dawn Bailey
Children5
Alma materUniversity of Utah
Occupationlawyer

Under District Attorney Van Dam's leadership, Salt Lake County DA's office was the first jurisdiction to prosecute serial killer Ted Bundy,[4] subsequently getting a conviction.

Prior to his serving as DA, there were separate organizations for the county attorney and the district attorney. As DA, he oversaw a huge reorganization to combine the two.

In 1988, he ran for Utah Attorney General[5] believing the office was under-funded and too small for the job. He was able to get the legislature to increase the budget, which enabled him to hire qualified attorneys and update the computer system making case handling more expedient and effective. He was a Democrat AG working with a Republican legislature.

Cold fusion at the University of Utah was a huge issue early in his term as AG. The state had to do whatever they could to protect the university's rights and interests in the process of cold fusion. Cold fusion ended up being a losing issue for the university but required a major effort by the AG's office.

An antitrust suit involving the University of Utah and medical services for children was another major case during his term. The university had been warned not to combine with a business that provided the same services but did so anyway, thereby making them the only providers. He pursued action against the university, incurring the wrath of the university. The case ran over into his successor's term for completion.

The abortion issue toward the end of his term proved very challenging when the state wanted to pass an anti-abortion law. He told them the law would be unconstitutional. As he was a Democrat, many did not want him involved. The state wanted to challenge the abortion issue but AG Van Dam argued it would be a waste of state dollars when case law indicated they would lose. The state hired an outside firm but ultimately failed in their efforts for the state.

During his term as AG he served as chair of the National Association of Attorneys General's antitrust committee.[6]

A quote from Utah's Deseret News provides his public service philosophy:

"Throughout my life, including my service as attorney general, I have worked with people from both parties to solve problems and represent the people of Utah. I will establish that same dynamic in the Senate, where the needs and concerns of the people of Utah will always be my priorities."

Van Dam did not run for a second term. He did in 2004 run for U.S. Senate against then Senator Robert Bennett feeling that issues needed to be dealt with such as health care.

References
  1. "Paul Van Dam for U.S. Senate - About Paul". webarchive.loc.gov. Archived from the original on 2004-12-16. Retrieved 2017-11-22.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22942/
  3. "Paul Van Dam bio". DeseretNews.com. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  4. "Ted Bundy". Biography. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  5. "Utah Attorneys General". Utah Attorney General. 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  6. "NAAG | Antitrust Committee". www.naag.org. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  7. "Michael Andrew Van Dam's Obituary on The Spectrum & Daily News". The Spectrum & Daily News. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  8. admin (2007-06-28). "Mary Bailey Obituary - Salt Lake City, Utah". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  9. "Conserve Southwest Utah". Conserveswu. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  10. "Former AG explains bid for commission". The Spectrum & Daily News. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  11. "Witness list released for St. George congressional hearing". The Spectrum & Daily News. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  12. "January 22, 2016 Congressional testimony" (PDF).
  13. "Red Cliffs National Conservation Area".
  14. "Red Cliffs Desert Reserve".
  15. "H.R. 5597 Desert Tortoise Habitat Conservation Plan Expansion Act, Washington County, Utah".
  16. "May 2018 Congressional testimony" (PDF).
Legal offices
Preceded by
David L. Wilkinson		 Attorney General of Utah
1989–1993		 Succeeded by
Jan Graham
Party political offices
Preceded by
Scott Leckman		 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Utah
(Class 3)
2004		 Succeeded by
Sam Granato
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