Why we fight so hard for a better Salt Lake County

*Originally published in City Journals

From difficult budget decisions, to jail beds, to homelessness, there’s never any shortage of important and complex challenges facing the Salt Lake County Council. Whenever the countless issues seem particularly daunting, I think back to why it’s so important to try and make progress on behalf of the taxpayers of Salt Lake County.

At the end of June, I took my family to the annual Taylorsville Dayzz festivities. The day started with a ride on the top of my minivan in the Taylorsville Parade. Though I’d prefer to sit down with fellow residents of my hometown and hear about what’s important to them, I still enjoyed riding through the heart of our city along with other community leaders in the parade and seeing so many of you there celebrating our freedom.

By the end of the day my boys and neighbors were singing “Sweet Caroline” at the top of their lungs during the concert and fireworks show. I absolutely love my city and my family.

This is just one community event, in just one city in our great county. There are countless carnivals, parades, and other cultural events that are taking place all across the valley all summer long. For me, these are much more than just a welcome respite from the day to day work of representing my constituents or raising a family. They are brief moments where we celebrate what matters most: working hard to raise our families in a community full of neighbors and friends—in a place where we are free and safe to do so.

Our commitment to family, our sense of community, and our shared vision of a county that is safe, clean, and prosperous is what makes Salt Lake County such a wonderful place.

Whenever I’m working on tough topics with my colleagues at the Council, interacting with our state legislators, or hearing from city mayors, the best motivation is the image our Salt Lake County residents enjoying their community together.

We want streets and trails that are safe and clean. We want economic opportunity and valuable education. We want a platform to build something lasting in our homes and neighborhoods. I love the opportunity to serve on the County Council representing the voters of District 3 as we work together to make all these a reality.

So whenever any of us get a little discouraged with the negativity we see on social media, the partisan divides that seem to afflict so many regions of our country, or the daunting challenges right here in Salt Lake County, just remember what we are fighting for.

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