Politics, From a Younger Perspective

Ever since I threw my hat into the ring, in this wild and crazy world which is called Utah Politics, many people have been surprised at my age. Some have questioned whether I was too young to do all that would be required of a member of the Utah House of Representatives. The purpose of this blog is to address the specific issue of my age and show how my perspective would bring a greater diversity to the Utah House of Representatives.

To assume that because I am only 27 years of age, that I am not knowledgeable enough to be qualified for this position that I am running for would be a fallacy. All of us have a variety of experiences that shapes us into the people we are today. Also because of our varied experiences and backgrounds, we all carry with us a certain level of expertise in our realm of society. I am not an expert on recreation, transportation, or educational issues. It’s just not my background nor have I had much experience in knowing the little nuances in those particular fields to help me understand the impact of possible legislation in those areas. However, when it comes to healthcare, research and small businesses, I would say that my background helps me to better understand how possible legislation would affect those areas. One of my pet peeves is when some people will say to me (usually disagreeing with me on a particular issue) “Well, you are young and so you don’t understand this particular issue.” My age has nothing to do with how much I understand or don’t understand a particular issue but my experience does. For example, a 57 year old immigration expert approaches me with a very in-depth, thoughtful question concerning immigration. I may or may not be able to answer that question that he posed to me. This is not because of the fact that I am younger than he is, but rather because of the different background and education we both have received. If I were to ask that 52 year old an in-depth, thoughtful question concerning research practices, he most likely wouldn’t be able provide a sufficient answer. Again, age has nothing to do with his ability to answer or not answer the question. His experience and background led him to a greater knowledge in immigration than me. On the flip side, my experience in healthcare and research gives me a greater understanding of these issues, even though I am 30 years younger than he is. The beauty of our democracy is that we bring our varied backgrounds and experiences to the table and discuss, and look at all of the points of view presented by all who have knowledge in their particular field of study.

Secondly, I represent a demographic that is currently not being represented within the House of Representatives. The average age here in Utah is 27.1 years. I represent the younger generation many of whom are just as bright and intelligent as their older counterparts. Who do you think runs or takes lead roles within campaigns here in Utah? Its college age individuals who have the time, resources and ability to take on such a daunting task. We bring with us our experiences, concerns and our unique abilities and talents. The main focus of our campaign is to bring a voice to the House of Representatives that for the previous 18 years has been missing. I will bring to the Hill a younger perspective on legislation and it’s impact on the average demographic here in Utah. More importantly, I will bring to the capital a conservative voice and a voice of one who actively listens to his constituents. This is why I am running, to allow those who have not been heard for the past 18 years, be heard in the House of Representatives.