My goal is to increase democratic participation by ensuring every eligible voter has a voice, and that voter outcomes are not predetermined by political maneuvering or wealth.

Election Process Reform

• Democratize Primaries: I promote mandatory open primaries that allow unaffiliated voters to participate in one party's primary election without formally registering for that party.

• Encourage Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV): I support RCV or approval voting mechanisms for primary and municipal elections to eliminate the "lesser of two evils" dynamic, promote moderate candidates, and ensure winners hold a broader base of support.

• Reduce Incumbent Advantage: Taxpayer money should not be used for mass communications by incumbent legislators running for re-election.

Representative Voting Districts (Anti-Gerrymandering)

I will seek to insulate Utah's map-drawing process from partisan manipulation to ensure fair representation:

• Codify Strict Criteria: I would establish ranked, legally binding map-drawing criteria that prioritize equal population, contiguity, and the preservation of Communities of Interest.

• Transparency and Public Input: I will advocate for full transparency by requiring public access to mapping data, inviting robust public engagement during the drafting process, and requiring all proposed maps to pass neutral partisan bias tests.

• Supermajority for Approval: I would require any final map approval by the legislative body to pass with a supermajority vote to incentivize bipartisan compromise.

Campaign Finance Transparency

• "Stand-Still" Fundraising Window: I will support a "stand-still" window that prohibits legislators from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during the annual Legislative General Session and a period immediately preceding it.

• Real-Time Disclosure: To prevent dark money from controlling elections, I would require all campaign contributions over $500 to be reported to the state election office within 48 hours of receipt.

• PAC Transparency: I would require Political Action Committees (PACs) to disclose their original source of funds to prevent hiding large, influencing donations.

Expand Voter Participation

• Youth Engagement: I would launch a program for voter pre-registration in high schools and collaborate with schools on civics programs and mock elections to establish early civic habits.

• Community Education: I would organize local "Ballots and Breakfast" events at community centers and libraries in the district to provide non-partisan education on how to complete mail-in ballots, verify voter status, and find objective information on local candidates and ballot initiatives.

• Government Transparency: I would ensure government transparency by requiring meaningful public review of proposed legislation before it is debated on the floor and will pursue reforms to make government records more publicly available.

• Ethics and Conflicts of Interest: I would pursue ethics reforms to reduce conflicts of interest, ensuring that legislative decisions are made solely in the public interest.

• Judicial Integrity: I believe in the separation of powers. I would work to maintain judicial independence and a strong system of checks and balances.

Housing Availability and Affordability

• First-Time Homebuyer Support: I would work to significantly increase the funding for the First-Time Homebuyer Assistance program to lower barriers to homeownership for working families.

• Commercial-to-Residential Conversions: I will champion legislation that provides tax incentives and regulatory streamlining for the commercial-to-residential conversion of underutilized suburban office parks and retail centers to rapidly increase housing supply.

Education Funding (Closing the Gap)

• Close the Per-Student Funding Gap: I will aggressively advocate for discretionary increases to the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) above required inflation, directly addressing Utah's rank as last in the nation for per-student funding.

• Improve Teacher Retention: I would work to fund targeted teacher bonuses for educators who commit to serving in high-poverty and high-need schools within the district.

• Administrative Oversight: I would conduct legislative oversight to ensure public education funds are directed to the classroom, focusing on accountability to prevent administrative bloat in school districts.

Great Salt Lake

• Market-Based Water Conservation: I would dedicate state funds to Water Leasing/Transaction programs, allowing the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust to purchase or lease water rights from farmers in voluntary, compensated transactions.

• Water Law Reform: I will sponsor legislation to reform water laws to recognize the Great Salt Lake as a “beneficial use” of state water, legally protecting water that flows to the lake.

• Conservation Incentives: We should establish a lake level target with a plan to achieve it and implement tiered water pricing for municipal users to provide financial incentive to conserve water.

Energy

• I would promote the development and investment in renewable and zero-pollution energy solutions to ensure Utah's future energy independence and improve air quality.