Candidate, Utah State House of Representatives, District 38, 2014

Candidate, Utah House of Representatives, District 38, 2012

No caucus information on file.

Experience, Clandestine Laboratory Specialist

Retired, Police Officer

Experience, Undercover Officer

Former Chair, Board of Directors, Southwest Voter Registration Project

Organizer/Commander, Western Hills Neighborhood Watch Program

Awards:

08/26/2001 - Commendation for attention to duty and risk of injury above and beyond the call of Duty as a police officer for the great state of Utah.

2004/2005 - Golden Key honor society for scholastic achievement and The International Honors Society for Economics.

Personal Hero and Why:

My mother: Because she has always been a positive influence in my life. She is dedicated to her family, a hard worker and has taught me good values. As a single mother she had to work extra hard to provide for her children.

Priority Issues:

EDUCATION: Nothing is more important to our state than providing a strong system of public schools for our children. One of the main reasons for my candidacy is to address the critical need for better education in my district. We all understand that with limited resources, we must become more efficient in the way we spend education dollars. I believe that in order to accomplish all we need to do; we must broaden the base from which we draw education funding. That would include a fair tax system that addresses loopholes including industries that currently are under taxed and are not paying their fair share.

I also believe in taking a broader approach to including all the stake holders in public education. I believe that local business and community based nonprofit organizations can contribute substantially to providing support to local schools to meet their unique needs.

AIR QUALITY: The respiratory health of Utahans is clearly at risk. Every winter and increasingly during the summer we are faced with days along the Wasatch front wherein we are restricted from daily activity due to air quality. Both I and all of my three children suffer from Asthma. We are affected negatively by every occurrence of poor air quality along the Wasatch front. I believe there should be a financial incentive to keep particulate matter out of the air in the state of Utah.

I am committed to standing up for the working families of this state.

I am committed to standing strong for Public schools and the teachers to whom we entrust the success of our children.

I am committed to the rights of women to equal pay for equal work, to equal opportunity for all who live in this state and particularly in this district.

And I am committed to working hard with local and state officials to make our neighborhoods safe places for our families.

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

There are some core reasons I decided to seek public office. Firstly, I wanted to show my children through my example that they should be active in our community and that with their efforts they can create positive change.

In August of 2002, while in the performance of my duties as a police officer, I stopped a possible DUI. While I approached the suspect's vehicle on foot, I was struck by another intoxicated driver. This event changed my life. I was eventually forced to retire medically from law enforcement and that is when I discovered that our great state is one of three states in the nation that has NO medical retirement for police officers. This event alone helps me to understand the needs of our working families in the state of Utah. Our working families need representation!

As the proud father of three school-age children attending public schools and as a volunteer in the same schools my children attend, I am well aware of the fact that our education system is the lowest funded in our great nation. As a neighborhood watch organizer and commander I know that in our legislative District, 70% of the graffiti is not related to gangs but due to children who have no place to go after school. We must invest in education and in our children because they are the leaders of the future. Education brings prosperity to individuals, families and to our great nation.

These reasons compounded by the fact that for many years I have felt that I am not being represented by my local politicians propelled me to run for office. Whether it be as a police officer, little league coach, neighborhood watch organizer, or in grassroots, I have always served my community and I will continue to do so.

I am committed to finding solutions that make our community stronger and
help our working families survive and thrive. I believe the residents of District 38 deserve principled and aggressive representation working hard to find solutions to the challenges facing our families, neighborhoods and communities.