The Crisis of Citizen Representation: Why I Seek Office

My decision to seek political office stems not from a desire to impose a national agenda, but from an undeniable, deeply local crisis of representation in the state of Utah. Across issues ranging from the sanctity of our electoral maps to the fundamental mission of public education, the actions of the Utah Legislature have demonstrated a profound lack of regard for the expressed will of the people. This pattern of institutional subversion has created a dangerous disconnect between those who govern and those who are governed. I am running to correct this failure, anchored by a simple conviction: the best ideas for Utah come from the citizens of Utah, not from political machines, wealthy special interests, or distant national think tanks.

The foundational principles of our republican government—that the power resides in the people—are being eroded by a state legislative body that acts as if it is accountable only to its own entrenched power structure. When citizens take the arduous and essential steps of gathering signatures, financing a campaign, and passing a ballot initiative, they are exercising their most fundamental constitutional right to reform their government. The Legislature’s habit of subsequently overriding, weakening, or repealing these initiatives is not merely a political disagreement; it is an act of institutional disrespect that has compelled me to step forward and defend the democratic franchise itself.

The most egregious and public example of this crisis is the legislative nullification of Proposition 4, the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative. In 2018, Utah voters approved this bipartisan measure, creating a commission with the explicit mandate to draw electoral districts free from partisan manipulation, thereby establishing fair maps. This was a clear, direct, and powerful statement from the electorate that they valued fair representation over partisan advantage. The Legislature’s response, however, was swift, cynical, and uncompromising. Through the passage of Senate Bill 200, lawmakers gutted Proposition 4, stripping the independent commission of its authority, relegating it to an advisory role, and proceeding to draw a congressional map that aggressively maximized the ruling party’s power. This map became infamous for ‘cracking’ Salt Lake County—a clear community of interest—into four separate districts, diluting the voice of its voters. This act was not merely political; it was a deliberate structural decision designed to insulate incumbents from accountability and ensure that the political outcomes would be decided by a few party elites, regardless of the will of the people. My candidacy is a direct challenge to this rigged system, affirming the recent court rulings that have begun to restore the constitutional protections of the people’s right to reform their government.

This pattern of legislative defiance extends directly into the sphere of public education and school vouchers. For decades, Utahns have consistently protected our public schools. In 2007, when a comprehensive school voucher program was legislated, citizens successfully exercised their right to referendum, overwhelmingly rejecting the measure at the ballot box. This was the people’s mandate: taxpayer money must be focused on strengthening the public education system, which serves over 90% of our state’s children and is required by the state constitution to be “free and open to all.” Yet, in recent years, the Legislature moved to pass the “Utah Fits All” Education Savings Account (ESA) voucher program, diverting over $80 million in public funds into private education and homeschool expenses. This move was made despite strong opposition from educators, parents, and community advocates, and currently faces constitutional challenges based on the argument that private and religious schools, which can select students and lack accountability, cannot meet the constitutional standard of being "free and open to all children of the state." The choice to ignore the previous referendum, bypass public consensus, and funnel critical resources away from underfunded public schools highlights a clear priority: pleasing a narrow ideological faction often backed by national, deep-pocketed think tanks, rather than fulfilling the core duty to our community schools.

Furthermore, the reluctance of the Legislature to embrace common-sense electoral reforms like Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) reinforces the perception of an entrenched, self-preserving political class. RCV has been successfully utilized by multiple Utah municipalities through a pilot project, demonstrating its capacity to eliminate costly primary runoffs, reduce negative campaigning, and ensure that elected officials are chosen by a broad consensus of the electorate. Its proven success locally should be a blueprint for a healthier statewide democracy. However, the lack of momentum for its statewide expansion demonstrates a fear of competition. Politicians who thrive in a highly polarized, low-turnout environment view any system that rewards civility and broad appeal as a threat. RCV is a reform that empowers the rational, middle-ground voter, but the legislative preference for maintaining the status quo is a preference for maintaining their own power.

These three issues—gerrymandering, vouchers, and the stalling of RCV—are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a political system that has grown deaf to the public it purports to serve. I am seeking office because I believe in the intelligence, ingenuity, and essential goodness of the Utah people. I reject the notion that we must import solutions from distant, ideological sources.

My platform is simple: I will listen, and I will represent. I believe the best policies are forged from local consensus, transparent deliberation, and the wisdom of communities, not just the wealthy and the connected. When I look at the repeated attempts to override ballot initiatives, I see a political body that has ceased to trust its own citizens. As your representative, I will be the voice that insists on the restoration of that trust, ensuring that the legislative power truly reflects the sovereign power of the people of Utah.

My campaign is about opening the door of the State House back up to the citizens who built it.