The Standard-Examiner reached out to both candidates with questions about their candidacy and both candidates submitted the following.

Experience

Bernal noted in an emailed reply that she’s held several leadership positions.

“I have served on the boards for the Weber State University Alumni Association, Ogden-Weber Technical College Foundation, Ogden Diversity Commission, Autism After 21 Initiative, and the Ogden-Weber Chamber Women in Business,” she wrote. “I have volunteered and served with the Junior League of Ogden, the Weber-Morgan Children’s Justice Center, GOAL Foundation, Tri-City Exchange, and OgdenCAN. In 2018 I founded Awesome Autistic Ogden, an annual community event celebrating neurodiversity and disability. I am a graduate of the OWC Leadership Northern Utah and the Ogden Citizens’ Police Academy.

“In 2022 I partnered with the Ogden Police Department to implement an opt-in autism registry database to help ensure the safety of both neurodiverse individuals and law enforcement officers. Later that same year, I won my election to the Ogden School Board with nearly 65% of the vote. In addition to general board duties, I serve on the Student Achievement Committee, Equity Council, and Student Discipline subcommittee.

“In 2016 I started my own company doing trainings around the world before accepting a management role with the Utah Jazz in November 2022. I stepped down from that role in June in order to focus my efforts on my candidacy for the state senate.”

In an emailed reply, Johnson said he wasn’t quite expecting to become a public servant.

“I grew up in North Ogden, and over the last two decades, my family and I have supported various groups and causes throughout our community,” he wrote. “Public service wasn’t part of my original plan until 2019 when I helped fund and lead the effort to defeat the legislature’s attempt to raise taxes on gas and groceries. That experience motivated me to run for state senate in 2020, and I’m now serving my first term as a State Senator for Utah’s Third Senate District. Before stepping into public office, I spent over 30 years as an educator, retiring as an Emeritus Professor from Utah State in 2023.”

He added that his experience goes beyond teaching.

“In addition to teaching, I developed software that transformed the mortgage industry, benefiting both lenders and consumers,” he said. “While my opponent attacks the success I’ve built on sacrifice, hard work, and sweat equity, my focus remains on creating a future where working families and young innovators can pursue their goals and achieve their American Dream. I believe Utah’s strength lies in supporting affordability, education, and opportunity for all. This commitment drives my work in the Senate, where I strive to ensure Utah remains a place where families can thrive.”

Why are you running?

Johnson said he’s looking to build a stronger Utah for families.

“With rising costs and mismanagement in Washington, many hardworking Utahns are struggling to make ends meet,” he wrote. “They don’t need higher taxes and bigger government on top of it, and I’m proud to be the only candidate in this race who’s never voted to raise taxes. I have a proven record of helping deliver over $1 billion in tax relief, cutting taxes on social security and expanding child tax credits, while making historic investments in public education, and cutting government red tape to boost innovation and job creation.

“My wife and I raised our family in North Ogden, where all eight of our kids went to public school. As a father of eight and a former educator, I understand how essential it is to ensure affordable living, quality education, and strong local job opportunities. If re-elected, I’ll keep fighting for tax relief, efficient government, and quality education without added burdens on families. It would be my honor to earn your vote and to continue fighting to make Utah more affordable, while restoring common sense and innovative thinking in government.”

Bernal said life experiences have driven her to run, even if she “wasn’t supposed to.”

“I am not ‘supposed’ to be a politician,” she wrote. “Nothing about my life made me destined to be a leader, let alone a state senator. An abuse survivor from a trailer park in South Carolina, I was meant to stay quiet and small. And then I became a single mom to a son who was diagnosed with autism. I had to become a voice for him. I saw how people, young and old, treated a kid who was different. I am running for senate because I can no longer be quiet about the hurtful bills coming from our legislature that directly harm my family and others I love. Rather than focus on issues like air quality, earthquake preparation, saving the Great Salt Lake, and improving affordable and accessible housing, our state legislature takes aim at some of our most marginalized communities.”

She added that she also wants to bring balance to the Legislature.

“I am running to make positive, meaningful change for those who have felt unrepresented,” she said. “I am running for senate to uplift families and residents by ensuring that advancement is shared fairly, leaving no voice unheard and no opportunity out of reach for any Utahn.”

Focuses

Bernal said housing and cost of living are among her priorities.

“I will advocate for a balanced approach to addressing the current housing crisis,” she wrote. “I am committed to supporting legislation that reduces taxes where and when possible, easing the financial burden on everyday residents and families. I am committed to ensuring that our schools receive the support they need to help every student succeed.

“I believe that addressing Utah’s cost of living requires a comprehensive approach that tackles the various factors driving up expenses for residents. I advocate for several strategies to alleviate these costs, including affordable childcare for working families, fostering the creation of high-paying jobs across diverse industries, and ensuring that wages and benefits keep pace with inflation. I am committed to making life more affordable and sustainable for everyone.”

She said she is also focused on equitability, listening to voters and environmental issues that impact air quality and the Great Salt Lake.

Johnson wrote: “In 2020, I campaigned on providing tax relief, investing in education, and sparking innovation. Since then, I have helped deliver over $1 billion in tax relief for Utahns, which includes reducing taxes on Social Security benefits and veterans’ retirement pay and expanding child tax credits to support working families. I’ve stood firm against gas tax increases and continue working on innovative solutions for property tax relief to help keep Utah affordable.

“In education, I’ve helped secure nearly $2 billion in new investments in public education to improve our schools, increase teacher pay and invest in classrooms. I’m committed to ensuring parents and teachers have a strong voice in shaping the future of education in Utah, so every student has access to quality learning opportunities to build a strong future.”

He added that he also is on the lookout for red tape to cut and removing burdensome regulations.

For more information on both candidates, visit vote.utah.gov.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include statements sent by Sen. John Johnson.