Editor’s note: In anticipation of the June 30 primary elections, each of the four Republican candidates for governor are making their case in the Deseret News this week. See the sidebar below to read op-eds from former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
I was born and raised in Utah, so I was taught that things are earned, not given or handed down. Because of that, I believe that positions of leadership should be earned, and not passed around from politician to politician because their names are familiar. That’s why I’m running for governor.
I’m a business owner that led a brand-new company through the Great Recession in 2008. It was tough, but the conservative values of hard work, perseverance and living within our means paid off. I’m a Republican that spent years as a party volunteer traveling the state to help elect Republicans, so our state could continue to be a beacon of conservative policy and ideals. I’m a father of four awesome kids and I want to make sure that someday they can find a high-paying, stable job and an affordable home here in Utah. I’m the husband of a teacher, so I know firsthand how important it is to get government out of the classroom and trust our teachers to teach. I’m also the son of parents who taught me the value of hard work, gratitude, faith and most importantly, helping others, which is why I want to put my skills to work.
I may not be a professional politician, but I have the business experience to support Utah’s businesses, manage the budget and make cuts to spending. I’m the only candidate that also has a plan to make sure that our education system isn’t left behind during this pandemic. I’m also the only candidate to propose suspending the food tax to provide taxpayers immediate relief, and I’m the only candidate who has had to balance the books during an economic recession. We’re going to need my real-world business experience.
My running mate, Rob Bishop, has a history of not only fighting for Utah but winning. He taught school for 28 years, was elected to the state Legislature, served as a speaker of the Utah House, served two terms as chairman of the Utah Republican Party and has represented our values in Congress since 2003. He’s worked with President Donald Trump to enhance state power, reduce federal encroachment, lower taxes, fight for the pro-life cause and always defend our Second Amendment rights. Rob Bishop has always fought for and put Utah first.
For 16 years I’ve watched the same people hand the baton of power back and forth as Utah continues to struggle with the same issues. If we want to see real change in rural Utah, in our classrooms and in our economy, we need to elect someone with new ideas and the leadership and experience to back them up. Rob and I have a plan that puts Utahns back to work, keeps taxes low, supports our teachers and schools, and continues the economic vitality Utah is known for. We will deliver on that promise. On June 30, let’s opt for a new, better approach to governing Utah.