Like many of you, I didn’t sleep much last week. As I watched the Jazz game get canceled, the stock market tumble and Rudy Gobert become one of the first diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in Utah, most troubling to me was the fact that I had nearly 50 friends going door to door passing around pens, paper, clipboards and quite possibly, unknowingly, the virus, as they worked on gathering the required 28,000 signatures to secure my spot on the gubernatorial primary ballot.
After sleepless nights, and in the interest of public health and safety, last Friday I directed my campaign to immediately suspend all signature gathering efforts. It was clear to me that this was necessary in order to help slow the spread of the virus throughout Utah.
In a competitive and crucial campaign, this was an extremely difficult decision, but I know it was the right one. I could not in good conscience send my team and volunteers out door to door when we are facing a serious public health crisis.
This isn’t a time for panic, but it is a time for each of us to be proactive. I’ve had to ask myself what can I personally do to slow the spread and “flatten the curve” of infection.
We have held nearly 500 public political meetings in every corner of this great state over the last year. All with the intent to get my name, Jeff Burningham, on the ballot and bring a fresh perspective to the governor’s office.
However, all that feels secondary now. To continue to campaign as usual seems selfish. Enough so that I couldn’t sleep.
Something I have said often on the campaign trail is this: “I don’t view running for governor through a political lens, to me this is all about leadership, problem solving, and public service.” As I was faced with this decision, I had to face that straight up and determine if I really meant it.
I knew what I needed to do. I made the decision and thankfully my team was fully on board. It hurt to be so close to guaranteeing a spot on the ballot and throw it all away, but I knew it was important that I do my small part.
This doesn’t mean I am throwing in the towel. I am more committed than ever to bringing new leadership and fresh thinking to the governor’s office. I will seek the nomination through the convention path and will continue to talk to voters over the coming weeks and months.
I will also begin holding my town hall meetings in new and innovative ways, such as virtual and phone meetings, to prevent any further spread of COVID-19. This will give voters an opportunity to learn more about my platform as well as ask me questions directly. I will host these kinds of meetings almost daily, using a variety of different formats.
The real test of leadership is when things are broken, not when things are going well. I pledge my support and anything I can do to help our state leaders get ahead of this crisis and prevent our health care workers from being overwhelmed.
Public safety is the No. 1 priority of government. While I appreciate the first steps that Gov. Herbert and Lt. Gov. Cox have taken, I believe we can and should be doing even more to protect the people of Utah. At my announcement yesterday I asked the lieutenant governor and the task force he is leading to take immediate action by closing all K-12 schools in the state, begin drafting economic relief for small business and families from the budget surplus that the people of Utah have created and immediately recognize cross border health care licenses without fee to bolster our health care network in the state.
This is not ‘business as usual’ for any business, person or family in the state right now. Therefore, this is not a time for politics as usual either. I am working to do my part, and I’m confident the rest of Utah will do the same.
Republican Jeff Burningham is running for governor of Utah.