Norma Louise Matheson (September 13, 1929 – July 28, 2019) was an American politician, political strategist, activist, and conservationist who served as the First Lady of Utah from 1977 until 1985.
[1] Scott Matheson worked as a Salt Lake County Prosecutor and a lawyer for the Union Pacific Railroad before entering politics in 1976.
[1] That same year, incumbent Utah Governor Cal Rampton declined to seek re-election for a potential fourth term, leading Scott Matheson to enter the gubernatorial election.
[2] Scott Matheson was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1989, which was believed to have been caused by radioactive fallout from nuclear testing in nearby Nevada.
"[1] Following her husband's death, Matheson continued to champion numerous political, civic, environmental, and philanthropic causes.
[1] James David Matheson won the 2000 congressional race and served seven terms in the United States House of Representatives.
[1] In 1996, she joined President Bill Clinton at the declaration ceremony for the creation of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, despite local controversy surrounding the plan.
"[2] In 2013, Norma Matheson partnered with former Republican Utah Governor Mike Leavitt and businesswoman Gail Miller to create "Count My Vote", a bipartisan effort to push for state electoral reform.
[1][2][6] Leavitt, Matheson, Miller, and their organization successfully lobbied for a new law allowing open primary elections in Utah.
[2] Tributes poured in from across Utah's political spectrum, including from Republican Gary Herbert, who called her "the perfect teammate" for Governor Matheson during both their careers.