Abigail Treasure highlights experience as mother, educator and engineer in House District 16 bid
Photo supplied, Abigail Treasure
Abigail TreasureAbigail Treasure is a Democratic candidate for the House District 16 seat. Below are her responses to a six-question survey sent to her by the Standard-Examiner. The Standard-Examiner made an attempt to contact each candidate involved in a competitive race in Weber and Davis counties.
1. Why is the position you are running for important?
The Utah House of Representatives makes decisions that directly affect our everyday lives: how our tax dollars are spent, what public services are available, what resources our schools receive, and what laws shape our families and communities. As a representative for House District 16, my responsibility would be to ensure our community has a voice in those decisions.
I believe representation means more than showing up to vote or working on legislation only addressing your personal priorities. It means listening to the people you serve, understanding their concerns, and being transparent about how and why decisions are made. The people of District 16 deserve a representative who will put their needs first, approach problems thoughtfully, and remain accountable to the community.
I’m running because I believe our government should work for the people it serves, and my community deserves representation that listens and cares about the challenges they are facing.
2. What unique qualities, attributes, skills, and experiences do you possess that make you the best candidate in this race?
As an engineer, I’m trained to look at the whole problem, ask the right questions, examine the available data, and evaluate solutions rather than jump to conclusions. As an educator, I learned the importance of listening, communicating clearly, and recognizing that people bring different experiences and needs to the table.
I believe our legislature needs more of that combination: someone who understands the everyday realities of working families, can work through complex issues, and is willing to challenge assumptions and follow the evidence. I’m not a career politician. I’m a mom, an educator, and an engineer who wants to bring practical problem-solving, compassion, and accountability to representing my community.
3. Please explain your priorities if elected, as well as why you believe you are uniquely capable of achieving those priorities.
My priorities are affordability for working families, strengthening public education, and saving the Great Salt Lake.
I know what it means to live paycheck to paycheck and need a little help sometimes. I also know how access to affordable childcare, including before- and after-school programs, can change a family’s trajectory. I want Utah families to have the opportunity to thrive, not just survive. That means addressing housing costs, childcare, and fair wages.
As the daughter of a lifelong public educator, a former public school teacher, and a mother of children in public schools, I believe Utah has the potential to build the strongest public education system in the nation if we provide our schools with the resources they need.
Saving the Great Salt Lake is an environmental crisis that demands urgent, science-based solutions. My background as an aerospace engineer has taught me to evaluate evidence, solve complex problems, and collaborate with technical experts.
My experience as a mother, educator, and engineer gives me a practical understanding of these challenges and the skills to tackle them. I will bring compassion, critical thinking, and a commitment to evidence-based decision-making to the legislature.
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 grew up as the youngest of six children, all with strong opinions, so compromise was part of daily life! I’ve carried that lesson into my careers in both the public and private sectors, where I’ve helped solve countless problems.
The best solutions come when people with different backgrounds and perspectives come together and think critically. In politics, compromise is essential, but I believe collaboration is the gold standard. Not my way, not your way, not simply something in between, but OUR way forward.
That means involving key stakeholders early, welcoming differing opinions, and working together from the beginning. Rather than writing a bill independently and negotiating compromises afterward, I believe the best outcomes for our communities are built through collaboration early and often.
5. How will you balance the views of the vocal public, your political party, and your own understanding and knowledge as an elected representative?
6. What is the best way for readers to contact you and/or get more information about your platform?
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