OGDEN — City Council member Angela Choberka is running for a second term in November, and she is not afraid to talk about race and ethnicity impacting people’s living situations.

She said it’s a “wicked problem” the City Council is actively working on. As a social justice advocate, she is passionate about addressing social determinants of health in regard to housing.

“It’s not morally OK,” Choberka said of research published by Healthy People 2020.

According to Choberka, there is a 10-year deficit in life expectancy among people living in different neighborhoods. Choberka believes all council members are asking the right questions on the housing crisis in Ogden, but they have different ideas on how to address them.

Choberka faces her own set of challenges as the council member representing District 1 of Ogden, which encompasses downtown. According to Choberka, people across the city believe her district is where high-density apartment living and business development should be located.

Developers need to provide affordable housing for all incomes, Choberka said, adding that means providing quality apartments in other parts of the city as well.

The City Council has received concerns from the public about high-density development outside of downtown for fear of crime moving with it.

“I’m a person who likes to look at research, and that is not always the case,” Choberka said. While she wants to hear people’s concerns and address them, she also wants to educate them on the reality of a situation.

Choberka appreciates the time and effort residents take in bringing about issues to the City Council and entrusting members to address them with people’s best interest in mind.

In unison with the Ogden Civic Action Network, Choberka said she has strived to provide Ogdenites with access to healthy foods and quality housing. During her three terms on the City Council, she has worked closely with the Weber Local Homeless Coordinating Council and The Junior League of Ogden.

A teaching position at Weber State University brought Choberka and her husband, Matthew, to Ogden 16 years ago, but the people and the community is why they choose to call it home, she said.

The 2021 general election culminates Nov. 2. Choberka faces a challenge for the District 1 seat from Thomas Gooch.

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