Citing a theme of family and cultural values, Republican Carol Nixon, one-time chief of staff to former Gov. Norm Bangerter, announced she will seek the 2nd Congressional District seat now held by Enid Greene Waldholtz.
Nixon made the announcement Tuesday to a crowd of cheering supporters in the Capitol Rotunda."Utah has proven the power of people who share lofty dreams," she said. "And the time has come to promote on a national level those policies that we've seen work so well here at home . . . policies that create an environment of opportunity, an environment for economic growth, policies that promote strong families, excellent schools, positive values and genuine service."
Nixon, who is resigning as deputy director of the Department of Community and Economic Development, said it is her family - her husband of 38 years, her six children and 13 grandchildren - who inspired her "to ensure freedom and opportunity for tomorrow."
"I know that I can take the spirit, the values, the economic lessons, the culture of work, thrift and family . . . qualities that are the cornerstone of Utah's success . . . I can take these to Congress and see that our collective voice is heard."
Nixon's announcement was scheduled before Waldholtz announced, also on Tuesday, that she would not seek re-election. It was Waldholtz's unelectability that prompted Nixon to get into the race regardless of what Waldholtz had decided.
"I think that she would have been strong among her constituents, but among the general public it would have been difficult for her to win. I want to make certain we (Republicans) can hang on to that seat," she said.
Nixon worked with Waldholtz in the Bangerter administration and referred to her as a friend. "She is a fine person, and I know there are many good things ahead for her," she said.
Nixon's announcement speech also focused on the imbalance of power between states and the federal government. The federal government is a threat to economic opportunity, quality of life, to families and faith because "big government has failed to recognize the moral, social and cultural consequences of its reckless programs. In its drive to centralize power and foster dependency, Washington has forgotten that the highest degree of compassion is to help a person find a job," she said.
Nixon, 58, has a long history of public service, beginning as an aide to three U.S. senators in the early 1960s. After working to establish a family business, she re-entered politics in 1976 to assist in Orrin Hatch's first campaign for the U.S. Senate. After his election, she served three years as Hatch's executive director in Utah.
In 1982, she served as deputy campaign manager for the Hatch campaign, working with future Gov. Mike Leavitt. She subsequently served as president of the Utah Symphony Guild, president of the Utah Federation of Republican Women, co-chairman of the Utah Women for Reagan-Bush and as a Utah delegate to the Republican Convention in Dallas.
In 1985, Nixon was appointed to the University of Utah Institutional Council, a position she later resigned to become director of the Utah Arts Council. In 1991, she was named chief of staff to Bangerter, the first woman to hold that position in Utah.
In 1993, Leavitt appointed Nixon as deputy director of Community and Economic Development where her responsibilities included oversight of the state's housing and homeless programs, community block grant programs, the Community Impact Board, the Office of Energy Services, the Office of Museum Services, the Office of Child Care, the Utah Arts Council, the Division of State History and the Utah Centennial Commission, among other programs.
Nixon, a Salt Lake native, is a graduate of Brigham Young University.