Anna Graff claims lifetime of service, community care in House District 12 race
Photo supplied, Anna Graff
Anna GraffAnna Graff is a Democratic candidate for the House District 12 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 drafts, debates, and votes on resolutions and bills that become state law, and make decisions about tax dollar spending, and prioritize public services and programs. A two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate overrides a Governor’s veto, or moves a constitutional amendment to the ballot. A representative serves a 2-year term, with no current term limits.
District 12 covers portions of Roy, Hooper, West Haven, Clinton, West Point and Syracuse, and a large area of unincorporated Weber and Davis County, wetlands and the Great Salt Lake.
District 12 is distinctly impacted by policy effects on rural vs more densely populated areas. This position holds the responsibility of making sure the voices and needs of their district are included in policy-making – speaking and acting for their district’s best interest.
2. What unique qualities, attributes, skills, and experiences do you possess that make you the best candidate in this race?
I care deeply about governance being rooted in integrity and protected from corruption.
My natural curiosity pushes me to seek out things I’ve missed and those whose input and voices have been overlooked.
I am not interested in building a political career for myself; my desire to run comes from a lifetime of service and community care. In the County Extension System, I worked with agriculture, horticulture, native and water-wise gardens and landscaping, aquaculture, youth and community development, budget allocations and management. As a city planning commissioner I strive to make thoroughly researched, educated decisions that balance needs of the present with solutions that provide for and protect the future. I deeply value integrity and kindness – always curious, researching possibilities and details, collaborating and connecting with differing viewpoints, and seeking out my own blind spots to more fully understand the nuance and impact of decisions.
I just love policy, and I love people.
3. Please explain your priorities if elected, as well as why you believe you are uniquely capable of achieving those priorities.
My priorities include the following:
– strengthening accountability, transparency, and oversight; those who wield power are responsible for acting with integrity and mitigating potential harm of those in their care.
– the Great Salt Lake, air quality, and gaps in proactive regulations that expose Utahns to growing health concerns.
– ensuring that those who personally understand the needs/impact are involved in policy making, especially in regards to Veterans, Education, Accessibility, Organized Labor, and Marginalized Communities.
– protecting Utahns from bearing tax burdens that subsidize corporate profits.
For over a decade I’ve worked at the intersection of policy and community; both as an activist and someone who has personally navigated housing insecurity, domestic violence, disabilities, and single parenthood. I’m now a military spouse, and devote my time to community volunteering and policy development. My broad experiences have furthered my understanding of Utahns’ needs and exactly who gets left out of the room when decisions are made.
As a candidate, I’m funded by individuals, not corporations. I run to bring their voices and experiences into decision making.
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 prefer to pursue collaboration rather than settling for compromise, but I also recognize that at times compromise may be necessary to stop or prevent immediate harm.
Collaboration requires effort to understand the needs of all sides; building trust and driving innovative solutions with a much higher satisfaction rate for all parties than compromise.
If compromise is the accepted default, there is less motivation to consider new possible solutions, methods, or understandings; and all involved are less than satisfied.
Compromise is easily exploited when power is imbalanced; forcing the greater concession of someone with lesser power. Collaboration is built on the implicit dignity and mutual respect of the unique perspectives of all.
As planning commissioner, I’ve discussed our chicken-raising ordinance often – but it applies equally to rabbits. Each time it came up, I made sure we considered how changes for chickens would affect the rarely-discussed rabbits. Now when chickens come up, another commissioner grabs their mic and adds “and rabbits” before I can. Not a compromise; an understanding that includes all affected in consideration.
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 address my personal bias and make informed decisions by researching and collaborating with opposing views and those most affected by legislation. I have a responsibility not only to represent the entirety of my district, but to thoroughly educate myself regarding the issues that affect them and that fall under my position’s governance.
I serve the people in my district, not a party.
If I cannot seek to understand and represent the voice and need of someone because of their political alignment, then I lack the foundational requirement to run for this office.
6. What is the best way for readers to contact you and/or get more information about your platform?
I can be reached through electannagraff.com, on Instagram at electannagraff, threads at annagraff801, or facebook at Anna Graff for House District 12.
