W. Val Oveson
Encyclopedia
Wilford Val Oveson is an American
Republican Party
politician in the state of Utah
. Oveson has held several state offices in Utah, most notably the third Lieutenant Governor of Utah
, and the federal office of National Taxpayer Advocate for the Internal Revenue Service
. He resides in Bountiful, Utah
.
, where his father worked for Geneva Steel
. He attended Brigham Young University
and earned a degree in accounting. He became a certified public accountant
, working for an Orem accounting firm for several years before starting his own accounting and auditing business.
Speaker Norm Bangerter
to say that he "audit[ed] like a junkyard dog."
In 1984, rather than running for re-election, Oveson became the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Norm Bangerter
. Bangerter and Oveson won the Republican primary in August 1984, overcoming the wealthy Congressman
Dan Marriott
's well-funded campaign, which was backed by party leaders. Next, in the general election, Bangerter and Oveson defeated the Democratic tandem of former Congressman Wayne Owens
and Dale Carpenter, then the director of the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Bangerter and Oveson received about 56% of the vote. They were narrowly re-elected in 1988. As Lieutenant Governor, Oveson directed a statewide performance audit aimed a reducing the cost of government. In 1990, Utah was named "Best Managed State" by Financial World
.
Soon after his second term expired, Oveson was appointed Chairman of the Utah State Tax Commission in 1993 by Governor Mike Leavitt. In this capacity he redesigned the computer systems and processes for the commission and created the Utah Tax Law Library on CD-ROM. He served in this position until 1998, when he was appointed the first head of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate; this position had been created by legislation passed by Congress in 1996. In this role, Oveson led 2,300 employees in 74 locations across the U.S., reported independently to Congress on problems facing America's
taxpayers, and recommended administrative and legislative solutions to stop the problems from recurring.
In 2000, Oveson joined PricewaterhouseCoopers
, where he was a managing director and lead of the knowledge management function for the state and local tax group. He was based in Washington, D.C.
In 2003, Governor Leavitt selected Oveson as Utah's Chief Information Officer. Oveson was confirmed by the Utah Senate and served until the end of Leavitt's term. In 2004, during his tenure as state CIO, Oveson was named one of the Public Officials of the Year by Governing Magazine
for his work in eGovernment
.
Oveson returned to the private sector after leaving the state government. He is currently part of Roc Consulting Group, a technology consulting firm.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician in the state of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Oveson has held several state offices in Utah, most notably the third Lieutenant Governor of Utah
Lieutenant Governor of Utah
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor in Utah was created in 1975. There have only been seven Lieutenant Governors in Utah's history. Prior to the creation of the Lieutenant Governor's office, the succession to the Governorship of Utah was held by the Utah Secretary of State...
, and the federal office of National Taxpayer Advocate for the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
. He resides in Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42,552, a three percent increase over the 2000 figure of 41,301...
.
Early life and education
Oveson was raised in Orem, UtahOrem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
, where his father worked for Geneva Steel
Geneva Steel
Geneva Steel was a steel mill located in Vineyard, Utah, founded during World War II to enhance national steel output. It operated from December 1944 to November 2001...
. He attended Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and earned a degree in accounting. He became a certified public accountant
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
, working for an Orem accounting firm for several years before starting his own accounting and auditing business.
Career
Oveson launched his political career with a successful run for Utah State Auditor in 1980. The Republican Party's presumptive nominee had been disqualified from running because he had not lived in Utah for the required five years. Oveson became the Republican nominee instead and soon became the youngest person elected to statewide office in Utah at the age of 28. His performance as State Auditor led Utah House of RepresentativesUtah House of Representatives
The Utah House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The House is composed of 75 representatives elected from single member constituent districts. Each district contains an average population of 35,000 people...
Speaker Norm Bangerter
Norman H. Bangerter
Norman Howard Bangerter was the 13th Governor of Utah from 1985 to 1993. He was the first Republican elected to the position since 1965.- Biography :...
to say that he "audit[ed] like a junkyard dog."
In 1984, rather than running for re-election, Oveson became the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Norm Bangerter
Norman H. Bangerter
Norman Howard Bangerter was the 13th Governor of Utah from 1985 to 1993. He was the first Republican elected to the position since 1965.- Biography :...
. Bangerter and Oveson won the Republican primary in August 1984, overcoming the wealthy Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Dan Marriott
David Daniel Marriott
David Daniel Marriott was a U.S. Representative from Utah.Born in Bingham, Utah, Marriott was educated in the public schools of Sandy, Utah, and graduated from Jordan High School in 1958....
's well-funded campaign, which was backed by party leaders. Next, in the general election, Bangerter and Oveson defeated the Democratic tandem of former Congressman Wayne Owens
Wayne Owens
Douglas Wayne Owens was a member of the United States House of Representatives for Utah's 2nd congressional district from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1993....
and Dale Carpenter, then the director of the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Bangerter and Oveson received about 56% of the vote. They were narrowly re-elected in 1988. As Lieutenant Governor, Oveson directed a statewide performance audit aimed a reducing the cost of government. In 1990, Utah was named "Best Managed State" by Financial World
Financial World
Financial World was the United States' oldest business magazine before going out of business in 1998. In the magazine's later years of publication, its signature issue was the "Sports Franchise Valuation Issue".- History :...
.
Soon after his second term expired, Oveson was appointed Chairman of the Utah State Tax Commission in 1993 by Governor Mike Leavitt. In this capacity he redesigned the computer systems and processes for the commission and created the Utah Tax Law Library on CD-ROM. He served in this position until 1998, when he was appointed the first head of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate; this position had been created by legislation passed by Congress in 1996. In this role, Oveson led 2,300 employees in 74 locations across the U.S., reported independently to Congress on problems facing America's
taxpayers, and recommended administrative and legislative solutions to stop the problems from recurring.
In 2000, Oveson joined PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
, where he was a managing director and lead of the knowledge management function for the state and local tax group. He was based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 2003, Governor Leavitt selected Oveson as Utah's Chief Information Officer. Oveson was confirmed by the Utah Senate and served until the end of Leavitt's term. In 2004, during his tenure as state CIO, Oveson was named one of the Public Officials of the Year by Governing Magazine
Governing Magazine
Governing is a national monthly magazine, edited and published since 1987 in Washington, D.C., whose subject area is state and local government in the United States. The magazine covers policy, politics and the management of government enterprises...
for his work in eGovernment
EGovernment
E-Government is digital interactions between a government and citizens , government and businesses/Commerce , government and employees , and also between government and governments /agencies...
.
Oveson returned to the private sector after leaving the state government. He is currently part of Roc Consulting Group, a technology consulting firm.