My position is important because representation matters.

For too long, Utah has had a supermajority that has been able to govern with very little meaningful opposition or accountability. I believe we are seeing the consequences of that right now.

Take redistricting. Utah voters made their position clear, and yet the Legislature fought to diminish the independent redistricting process that voters approved. That effort cost taxpayers millions of dollars while coming from a political establishment that frequently talks about fiscal responsibility. To me, that isn’t responsible government. It’s government choosing political power over the will of the people.

We have enormous challenges in front of us. The economy, education, and the environment are the things that determine whether Utah families can afford to live here, whether our children receive a quality education, and whether this state remains healthy and sustainable for the next generation.

Those are the issues I want to be working on.

2. What unique qualities, attributes, skills, and experiences do you possess that make you the best candidate in this race?

I think what makes me unique is the combination of professional communication experience, community investment, and a genuine willingness to listen. I’ve spent more than two decades working in marketing, public relations, organizational communications, and media production. My career has required me to take complicated information, understand different perspectives, identify what actually matters, and communicate it clearly to different audiences. That experience is directly applicable to being a representative.

A legislator’s job isn’t simply to have an opinion. It’s to listen, understand the problem, evaluate the information, communicate with people, and then make decisions that serve the public. I’m not running because I believe I have all the answers. In fact, one of the qualities I think is most important in a representative is the humility to recognize when you don’t.

3. Please explain your priorities if elected, as well as why you believe you are uniquely capable of achieving those priorities.

If elected, my priorities are straightforward: the economy, education, and the environment.

First, the economy. Utah is growing, but growth doesn’t automatically mean prosperity for everyone. Families are dealing with rising housing costs, healthcare costs, food prices, utilities, and wages that haven’t kept pace with the cost of living. I want to pursue policies that actually make life more affordable: raising wages, protecting collective bargaining, improving pay transparency, supporting working families, addressing housing affordability, and making healthcare more accessible. I also want our economic incentives to reward businesses that invest in their workers rather than using taxpayer dollars to subsidize low-wage employment.

Second, education. I believe public education is one of the most important investments Utah can make. That means supporting teachers, keeping classrooms manageable, protecting funding for public schools, improving accountability and transparency, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. I don’t believe we strengthen education by taking resources away from the public schools that educate the overwhelming majority of Utah children.

Third, the environment. I consider the Great Salt Lake one of the most important issues facing Utah. Its decline isn’t simply an environmental concern. It affects our water supply, agriculture, air quality, public health, and ultimately our economy. I want to see serious investment in water conservation, agricultural water leasing, secondary-water metering, turf replacement, responsible development, and restoration efforts that actually put more water into the lake.

4. Please describe how you view the importance of compromise in politics and provide an example from your own experiences that highlights your perspective.

I believe compromise is absolutely essential to effective government–but I also believe there is an important distinction between compromise and abandoning your principles.

I will compromise on how we get there. I will not compromise on the principles that brought me there. I can work with someone who has a different philosophy about taxation if we agree that Utah families need greater economic security. I can work with someone who has different ideas about education if we agree that Utah children deserve excellent schools. I can work with someone who approaches environmental issues differently if we agree that protecting Utah’s water and natural resources is essential.

Those are opportunities to find common ground. But compromise should never mean compromising someone’s fundamental rights, integrity, transparency, or the basic principles of representative government. That’s not failure. That’s democracy working.

5. How will you balance the views of the vocal public, your political party, and your own understanding and knowledge as an elected representative?

I think the first responsibility of an elected representative is to listen–but listening doesn’t mean simply doing whatever the loudest person in the room wants. There are really three voices I would have to balance: my constituents, and my own responsibility to understand the facts and make a decision. And I would put them in that order: listen to the people, understand the facts, and then exercise judgment.

My political party is irrelevant. My obligation is not to the Democratic Party. Period. My obligation would be to the people of House District 14 and to the Constitution.

6. What is the best way for readers to contact you and/or get more information about your platform?

The best place to learn more about me, my priorities, and my vision is youngforhouse.com.