Emily For Utah

Thank you to the 6,387 voters who believed in me!

2006-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to everyone who went to vote yesterday, and to the 6,387 voters who believed in me. Although this was not enough votes to win in the long run, I am humbled by all of those who had the confidence in me that I could be the State Senator for District 28.

OK, it was not the kind of victory we had hoped for, it did not turn out how we had planned. But it is a victory in so many other ways!

1. We made a republican candidate in Southern Utah run a real campaign! Had I not run, he would have walked into the seat without doing any of the hard work.

2. We have begun building some great momentum for the future. We have done more in Southern Utah than anybody ever expected, and I think that speaks volumes of where we can go.

3. I have learned more about myself than I imagined possible. I learned that a. I am a great fundraiser; b. that I can hold my own in a room full of good ole boys; and c. I can do anything without fear.

Please do not look at this as a loss! It is a victory!

The Female Democrat from southern Utah got almost 30 percent of the vote in the REDDEST of RED areas of the REDDEST of RED states in all of America. In Iron County, I pulled 32 percent, which is better than anyone expected.

Thanks to all of you for believing in me. You haven't seen the last of me in Utah politics.

But first, I'm going to Disneyland.

VOTE TODAY!

2006-11-07T05:10:00.000-08:00

Please exercise your right to vote today. It doesn't matter who you vote for or what your political party is. It is very important for people to get out and exercise their right to vote.

Men and women have fought and died to protect this right to vote. My grandfather fought in World War II, and my nephew is fighting in Iraq today. Our servicement aren't fighting for a political party, they are fighting for Americans and all of the rights that we hold dear.

Please visit my website www.EmilyHollingshead.com to find your polling location, and please... exercise your right to vote!

Emily Bingham Hollingshead
Candidate for Utah Senate, District 28

Emily and Dennis - Sound off on illegal immigration solution

2006-11-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

Compare and contrast, folks.

Who has the passion to serve the families of Utah? Who is willing to stand up and be heard?

Dennis Stowell's favorite answer is always "we need to study it and find out what the real problem is."

That takes too long. I'm more of a nuts and bolts kind of person who likes to jump in and get things done.

Dennis Stowell:

Emily Hollingshead:

Politics!!!

2006-11-01T07:28:00.000-08:00

I have said a million times that I never wanted to be a politician. It opens up your whole life to the world and all of the ideas and thoughts that you have are out in the open for the world to scrutinize. And on a regular basis, people tell you how they feel about you... some good, some bad, all of it interesting.

Yesterday, I recieved a piece of mail that was addressed from "current resident" - the anonymous sender had cut up my education mailer (below) and crossed out several lines, made silly irrelevant comments, and let me know exactly how he felt about the piece that he received in the mail.

First of all... dude... I don't care if you are not voting for me. I don't care if you don't agree with me. I'm sorry you felt the need to waste a stamp. Had I received a piece in the mail I didn't agree with, I would have thrown it in the garbage and moved on with my life.

So, I know of one guy who isn't voting for me. I am sure there are a few more.

But just five minutes ago, a self-described "hard core" republican called me up and told me that I need to bring a sign to him immediately, because in his words, I am "his kind of person" and that I am the *only* democrat he will probably ever vote for. And then I recieved an email from a person saying that "two respected republicans" would like yard signs, and could I please deliver them this morning. That's 3:1 folks. I can only hope that *those* odds are in my favor.

Isn't life funny?

Emily Hollingshead vs. Dennis Stowell - Part 1

2006-10-30T16:07:00.000-08:00

Compare, contrast. Ladies and gentleman, this man, my opponent, Dennis Stowell, was just endorsed by Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. for the Utah Senate.

Question: "What can we do for public education?"

Dennis:

Emily:

The Final Countdown

2006-10-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

Well, folks... there are only 17 days left until this little project comes to an end. I cannot tell you what a rewarding experience this has been... and no matter how this turns out, this has been an experience I will never forget. I have learned so much over the last 8 months about Utah and the people who live here, but more importantly I have learned what I am truly capable of and now realize that I can do anything I set my mind to doing. I think I knew that before, but I did not know how far I could actually go. No matter if I win the election or if God has other things in store for me, I promise that you have not seen the last of me in Utah politics.

So many interesting things have transpired over the last few months. I have tried to keep my message positive and focused on the things that I feel are important. I have knocked on literally thousands of doors (I think we hit 4,500 sometime today around 2pm in Fillmore) and I have talked to thousands of Utah citizens. I wish I had been wearing a pedometer all along, I can't imagine how many steps my feet have logged. I have put over 20,000 miles on my car since March, and have lost 7 lbs from all the walking. I'm not complaining - that in itself is a fabulous side effect of campaigning.

I have appreciated the good mentors at the Utah Senate and Utah House who have been there for me and who have made sure that I had the appropriate tools to get this job done. I have especially appreciated fellow Senate candidates Representative Pat Jones and former Representative Trisha Beck who have given advice worth its weight in solid gold. And there are not words to express the good help provided to me by the Utah Democratic party, who has been there with me every step of the way, guiding this neophite through every single aspect of my campaign. Specifically, thanks to Chairman Wayne Holland, who has made me focus on the positive, and when I get a little bit discouraged by the sea of "red" tells me to go "walk a neighborhood" and "don't come back until you feel better." I have to say, Wayne... it works every time. To Rob Miller, the uber blogger, who reminds me that I am stronger than I think I am. And to the rest of the staff - Todd, Tika, Marci, Jeff, and Craig - thanks for just taking my phone calls. You folks are awesome!

There are the strong and proud Iron County Democrats. Although our numbers are small, our spirit is unbelievable. There are too many people to name, but thanks to all of them for the undying commitment to my campaign and for always believing in me. I must give a special nod to Cyril Noble of the Washington County Democrats, whom I believe is the hardest working Democrat in all of Southern Utah.

There is my darling campaign manager, Cidne, and her crew of volunteers who just GO for it and hit the road and get that walking done. I can't imagine the foot miles *they* have logged over the last month. To the hundreds of people who have donated money, your donations have made all of this possible. And to the hundreds of people ... republicans and democrats alike... with lawn signs --- wow! Thank you for stepping out and supporting this Democrat, and for really believing in me!

I have to thank my beautiful friends, who have tolerated my mood swings and one-track mind, and nobody should have to put up with *that* on a regular basis! I promise to be more fun once this is over!! To Larry and Kristen, who have been a good emotional support system and who are the only two other people I know who truly understand what a campaign does to a family. To Katie, who campaigns for more candidates than anybody in Utah, but who is always willing to help. To Sue, who keeps sending the funny jokes and emails, which lightens me right up. To Michael, whose experience in campaign management has been invaluable. And to Reshell, who has made more sacrifices than I can imagine, you will never know what your incredible help has meant to me.

The list would not be complete without naming my good family. Tim and Kristen Hollingshead, who are good listeners and give good advice. Hey guys, only 22 more days until Disneyland! My parents, in spite of their being republicans, have been my most dedicated cheerleaders and have brought many otherwise non-democratic voters into my camp. My sister, the wordsmith, who has helped me make sure that my message was always *just* right. My brother, who just kept encouraging me. And my two wonderful sons, Chas and Sam, who have really hung in there even though every bit of their spare time is spent on the road, either campaigning or making sure the signs have all stayed put. Only two more weekends of this, kids... I promise.

And then there is Mark. I do not deserve him. He has been my constant companion and best friend for over 20 years. But in the last 8 months, I have really come to understand the depth of his love and devotion to me. He has kept up with the kids and the housework and even the laundry. He has helped me pull off two stake choir events (no small feat) and has had the best ideas for advertising. He has walked with me, has gone to every campaign event with me, and has been by my side every step of the way. He helps me with every aspect of this campaign, and has been my practice audience for every speech. He tells me every day that he is proud of me, and makes sure that I *always* have time to decompress. Mark, I love you more than I dreamed possible. Thank you so much for encouraging me on this journey and for never letting me stop going.

I did not really mean for this entry to turn so sappy and dramatic... but I fear I won't have 10 minutes in the next two weeks to really get it all down. My calendar is jam packed over the next 17 days, and I just know I won't even have time to blog let alone tell people how grateful I am for them.

I think this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. But boy has it been fun. I have 2000 more homes to visit in 17 days. With the help of my solid team and good friends, I think we will make it. I have never been more grateful for anyone as I am for all of you now.

Block Walking and Swearing Allegiance

2006-10-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

I love block walking. I love meeting the individuals who live in Senate District 28, I love hearing what is important to them, and I especially like the good conversations we get to have with those who are supporters, but also with those who flat out tell me that I won't get their vote, simply because I am a Democrat.

Tonight I met such an individual. He thought it was interesting that I didn't identify my political party on my flyer or my signs. He made it clear to me that he votes as a staunch republican. He even told me to move on down the road because he probably wasn't going to vote for me, simply because I have a (D) next to my name.

But I appreciated the moment to have a good conversation with this man, who agreed that if we were in a Sunday school class we would have many similar views. He couldn't get his brain around why I am a Democrat, and asked me, if I have such strong family values, why I didn't just align myself with the Republican party instead. I told him because I am a Democrat, not a Republican. He also told me that he couldn't vote for me, because he felt that if push came to shove, I would vote with the Democrats... I told him that I would always vote for what's RIGHT, no matter if it is a Republican idea or a Democrat idea. He told me that was wrong... that I should swear allegiance to my political party.

I don't believe that at all. I believe that I should swear allegiance to the United States of America, and to the State of utah, and to the citizens who live here.

What I'm learning more than anything... I'm sick of partisan politics. I'm tired of the litmus tests of "how do you feel about abortion" and "are you pro-family-enough??" Isn't it enough anymore to trust that a person will work hard and make the *right* decisions for Utah families? Partisan politics is ruining America. In Utah, we need to stand above this. We need to be better than this. We absolutely *must* put partisan politics aside, and vote for the person who will do the very best job for those who live here.

Thank you to all of the people who live in Senate District 28 for making me work harder for you, for being absolutely committed to your ideals, and for being honest regarding the values and issues that are important to you. *These* are the values which I promise to uphold, not the values of some political party. This is what America, and more importantly, what Utah is all about.

No Rallies on Main Street!!

2006-09-29T16:03:00.000-07:00

So, on Tuesday when the big red republican bus showed up in Cedar City, Larry Daniel and I followed them around town, taunting them with our friendly "True Blue Dems" signs. It was really more of a campaign season stress reliever for Larry and me and also a chance for us to tease the boys on the big red bus just a little bit.

But more important, it was intended to be nothing but good, clean, fun. Really... I have nothing against republicans, and there are a few of them I really really like. A lot. For example, my parents are good republicans. My best friend from high school is a good republican. And many of my customers and associates, and people I go to church with ... they are all good republicans! I have deep respect and admiration for all of them.

I also think that Governor Huntsman is shaping up to be fantastic for Utah. I like his common sense approach to government. I also think the Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff knows how to do the right thing by Utah citizens.

So, when we showed up at State Bank of Southern Utah with our "America Needs Utah Blue" signs and "True Blue Dems Love Governor H." message, I found it odd when a man approached us and told us we weren't allowed to display our signs on Main Street.

Man: "You can't do this here."

Larry: "On Main Street? I'm not on private property. And this is America! It's called free speech."

Man: "Well, not with your cheap shots."

Larry and Em: "What cheap shots?" (pointing to our "True Blue Dems Love Gov H" sign)

Man: "You need to go somewhere else."

and he walked off. I don't think he even read the signs... because if he *had* read them, he probably would not have been so offended by our being there.

About 10 minutes later, we were greeted by none other than Utah's Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff. He told us that the bus trip was pretty boring until they started seeing our signs around. And he laughed out loud, because he got it... he understood that we were not out there to protest the republicans coming to town... well, maybe we were protesting them a little bit.. but more important, we wanted them to know that we're here, working hard, and willing to show up in places they thought were "safe." He told us to keep it up, to keep working hard, and thanked us for being active in the democratic party and Utah politics. Larry heard it too, so I have a witness: thats' exactly what he said.

During campaign season it is easy to get alllll riled up about what "the other guys" are doing. I pledge to lighten up and have a little more fun, to laugh when something is truly funny, and to not worry so much about what the boys on the big red bus are saying.

After all, the *greatest* thing about America is that we CAN! We can protest when we don't like something, we can speak out when we don't agree, and we are all blessed with a right to our own opinion and perspective. The fact that we are given free agency to choose what we want in government is a good thing... we can study, ponder, and pray about who to vote for (because in America, we CAN), we can petition our elected officials when we want change, and nobody .... not even the boys on the big red bus ... can keep us from doing that.

Red? But BYU is BLUE!

2006-09-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

Today the big red republican bus blew into town.

Larry Daniel and I decided to give them a warm and hearty Iron County Democrats welcome:

Em's Mormon Assault Vehicle (and some republicans felt assaulted!!)

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff got a kick out of the Equality Utah reference.

THEIR message? Vote Red. Vote Republican. America Needs Utah.

Stops included the Iron County Courthouse (where they had breakfast on the lawn), the Enoch city offices, State Bank of Southern Utah, Southern Utah Univerity, and the Iron County School District Building.

I will be writing several posts about this experience over the next few days, but here are the highlights:

1. Mark Shurtleff greeting us with a big smile at the Iron County Courthouse, when he saw us drive by in the "DANIEL FOR UTAH" mobile.

2. The guy who old us we weren't allowed to organize a rally on Main Street and accused us of leveling cheap shots at the republicans (example of cheap shot: True Blue Dems love Gov H)

3. The signs we posted all over the place, just to make sure they knew we were there.

4. The College Republicans Rally at SUU and the gal who couldn't get LaVar to answer her question.

Imagine the big red blus blowing into town and seeing the sign on the left:

"Red? But BYU is Blue!"

Larry and I were just out having some good clean fun. Stay tuned for more fun.

Civility, Final Chapter

2006-09-20T23:16:00.000-07:00

So today I had the great privilege of going to the Utah Capitol and spending my afternoon with the Senate Democrats. These men and women are the *nicest* group of people ever, and they have been incredible mentors throughout this process. I am grateful and humbled by their support.

We met with a few lobbyists, celebrated Ed Mayne's birthday, and got to know each other a little better. Patrice Arent and Karen Hale are both incredible women and I am sad to see them both retiring. I know they both have great things planned, but Utah government will not be the same without them.

While I was rushing around to different meetings, I was approached by none other than LaVar Christensen, who told me that he had read my blog "Civility, Part 2." He said that I needed to change my entry because I had misrepresented what he said about House Bill 407. However, how I reported it is exactly how I interpreted what I heard. Larry Daniel was with me in the hallway and he also told Mr. Christensen that he had *also* interpreted the comments the same way I did. For several minutes Rep. Christensen tried to explain what he *meant* and several times, he asked me to change my entry.

On the long drive home tonight, I mulled over what I should do. Because my blog is merely my attempt to record my campaign experience, and because I am writing things from my own perspective and understanding, I don't think I should have to change or retract anything.

I will say this, however... it is not fun to be misrepresented. If Mr. Christensen feels like I didn't report it *exactly* as he said it or meant it, then maybe he can understand how I felt last week when he went off on Utah Democrats. He tried very hard to misrepresent Utah Democrats, trying to paint us as something that we are not. I did take great offense to his comments because I a proud of who I am, I am proud of my Utah Heritage, and am proud to be a Utah Democrat. I am a mommy, a wife, a daughter, a business owner, a choir director, a friend, a customer, and a Utahn, through and through. I have the same beliefs and live by the same values and standards as many in my community. To misrepresent me as anything else is absolutely misleading and completely dishonest.

Also, given my recent experience with Senate Democrats, it is not fair to misrepresent what they have done for Utah families. For example, Patrice Arent, Democratic Senator from Salt Lake County, filed 12 bills and passed 11 of them in the 2006 session . I don't know how you get much more effective than that.

Later in the afternoon, while I was in the Democratic Senate Caucus meeting, Republican Senator Lyle Hillyard came in to present the financial report. When Senator Karen Hale introduced me to him, I reminded him that we had already met - nearly 20 years ago when I was at Utah State University and the President of the College Democrats. I told him that I had met him on campus at a "Meet the Candidates" event. He asked me if he was nice to me that day. I told him, yes, he was a complete gentleman. We all had a nice chat about Senator Hillyard's garden and apple tree, and he enjoyed Senator Mayne's birthday cake with us. No politics, just friendly chit chat. I really hope there is more where that came from.

Now I am back home and ready to get back on the campaign trail. There is so much to be done. Onward and upward!

Civility, Part 2

2006-09-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I knew how this campaign season would go, I found myself upside down and flabbergasted. Yesterday, I was invited to speak at the Iron County Board of Realtors luncheon, along with candidates for other offices and other political parties.

Among those who spoke were Representative Mike Noel (Kanab). His remarks were openly and blatantly partisan as if he were actually proud of it. He stood up and leveled a full blown attack on democracy.

Over, and over, and over again, Noel claimed that political parties are more important than people. His actual words were "You don't vote for a candidate, you vote for a political party." He actually said those words out loud.

That would have been shocking enough. But, then he went on further to say that real power lies within a political party, That's funny, I thought the power lies within the people, and that government was created for the people, not for the political parties. Also, he let a major cat out of the bag and admitted that "Petty Partisan Politics" are the order of the day, and claimed that people "have to vote for republicans because Utah Democrats won't get anything done in state government." He further claimed that the Utah Legislature will put petty partisan politics above the business of the people. I have many good Republican friends who I am sure would be shocked and appauled at these remarks, as am I. If the citizens of Utah vote for the status quo, they are voting for a legislature that has openly admitted that they will put partisan politics over the business of the people.

Just when I thought it could not get any worse, LaVar Christensen stood up. Mr. Christensen, who is running for Congress against Congressman Jim Matheson made the same pathetic and shocking statement that voters should never look at individual candidates, but instead should only vote for a political party.

He criticized Larry’s remarks about House Bill 407, legislation that we were able to pass by working with Democrats in the Utah legislature. He said that the Utah Senate would not have passed the legislation unanimously had any Democratic Senator brought it to the table. With all due respect, sir, you’re misrepresenting what happened. HB407 *did* pass unanimously in the senate, because House Democrats approached Republican Senate leadership to make it happen. And it did happen, even if it was sponsored by a Democrat and the brainchild of Iron County Democrats.

Larry Daniel (candidate for House District 72) and I both spoke about a need for change and balance in the legislature, and I highlighted my platform and ideas, and talked about the upcoming race, and that it needs to be “About People, Not Politics.” Over and over again, I told the audience that this race was not about a political party, but about a voice for their values. Even the candidates from the Constitution Party had comments that focused on the positive, and that highlighted what they would do for Utah.

Late yesterday afternoon, I called Congressman Matheson to let him know that he is off the hook, because apparently LaVar Christensen wants to be the Senator from Southern Utah instead of the Congressman for the 2nd Congressional District.

The two hitmen from the Utah Republican party, Mike Noel and LaVar Christensen, are playing politics as usual. They are forcing the debate away from issues and ideas, and making it a single-minded one party system, about mascots and fear. From what I could tell they had no message, and obviously don't want people to look at the people who are running for office , but instead align themselves with a party and call it "truth." From what I could tell, the best thing they could say about themselves was that they have an elephant on their campaign signs. Apparently, there is nothing more to them.

What I find even more puzzling is their absolute commitment to the ideal of “One Party Rule.” Not only is that dangerous, it goes against the fundamental concept of discourse, balance, and compromise inherent in the America system of government. Furthermore, it is a assault on LDS church teachings, which clearly and explicitly says that it endorses no candidates, platforms or parties, and that “principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of all major political parties. While the church does not endorse political candidates, platforms or parties, members are urged to be full participants in political, governmental and community affairs.” (Letter from LDS Church, read at the pulpit in March, 2006)

Ladies and gentleman, what we have here is an introduction to how this campaign season is going to go. The Republicans have made their choice. It's not about people, it's about politics. The Wasatch Front Hitmen are going to swoop from the rafters to try to continually convince you that people don't matter.

Are we ready? Southern Utah has never had such a strong slate of Democratic candidates, both in Iron County and Washington County. It is important that we band together and get ready for the hate and lies that will come from the North. All of us are going to need some serious help to win, both financially and through manpower. It is the only way we will combat this Republican noise machine.

Civility First

2006-09-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

I just read a great post by Lisa Johnson, who is running for the Utah Legislature in Draper. I have enjoyed Lisa's blog and her comments over the last several weeks. Lisa is a great Utahn and would make a *GREAT* representative in the Utah legislature.

I encourage everyone to read Lisa's entry, where she wrote about a campaign event where both Congressman Jim Matheson and Senator Orrin Hatch were present. And they were being *civil* to each other! Some observers were shocked that the Congressman and Senator were so kind to each other... but a campaign volunteer pointed out that civility is SO important, and being kind to each other is the right thing to do.

I am afraid that civility is a lost virtue in American politics. Sometimes we want to be so *RIGHT* about our political ideas that we forget how to get along with each other. And I can't speak for all politicians, but I don't think the problem is actually with the politicians, but with the political pundits and voices of opinion who write letters to the editor. These so-called-experts like to do all the defining of what the Democrats believe, or what the Republicans have to say, but aren't really down in the trenches doing the hard work at hand. That's just my opinion, by the way. :-)

Last night at stake choir practice, a faithful choir singer met me in the hallway as I made my way into the stake center chapel. She couldn't WAIT to tell me that she is a Democrat and is so excited to support me in my campaign. Her husband, however, is a staunch Republican - which I think would make for some pretty interesting dinner conversations! Her teenage daughters were also there, but call themselves republicans... and were bugged that I am running as a Democrat. One even went so far to say that she was "disappointed" to see my signs and literature at the Iron County Democrats booth. Whatever!! I chalked her comments up to "youth and inexperience."

Their mother and I had to remind these good young women (and they are GOOD young women) that it doesn't matter what political party someone belongs to... what is important is that we have good people on both sides of the political aisle, that we have good ideas to choose from, and that we just can't get caught up in the political infighting that exists everywhere we go. We can't even open a newspaper without one side or the other throwing out garbage about their opponents. We are so stuck on our "side" that we forget that we're just dealing with people and their ideas to solve society's problems.

I have always believed that everybody in America wants the same thing: Safety and security; good education for our children; freedom; affordable health care and housing; and the very best that life has to offer. We just happen to have differences of opinion on how we will achieve these things. Unfortunately, we have lost the art of listening and understanding what the other person is saying: sometimes, we are so convinced that our political point of view is the BEST point of view that we are unwilling to listen to anything else. And when people are so closely aligned with a political party, they sometimes refuse to stop and listen to what someone on the other side might have to say, even if they would be surprised to learn that they agree with the so-called opposition.

At the Iron County Fair, I watched in awe at fair goers who took the long route around the Iron County Democrats booth to avoid talking to us. Even when we asked people if they were registered to vote, they would yell across the lawn "Yes, but I am a registered republican" as if talking to a Democrat in front of everyone would somehow invalidate their membership in the Republican party. Another woman looked me straight in the eye and said "well, we love you anyway, even if you ARE a Democrat."

Come on people. Leave the polarizing to the political pundits. As citizens of Utah and of America, we owe it to each other to work together and put aside our differences of opinion. We can choose to solve the problems that we face, or we can just keep fighting about them. I say let's workwith each other... after all, we're all in this together!

Proposed Changes to Water Conservancy Districts

2006-09-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

Water Conservancy Districts are given broad powers to implement their varied purposes. And, like most special districts in Utah, water conservancy districts can levy taxes. But they’re different from all other special districts (like school boards) because their board members are appointed by county commissioners, not elected by the voting public.

The appointment of conservancy boards raises all sorts of questions that might make for a lively discussion in some political-science classes. For example, should any non-elected body have the right to collect taxes? I say no, they should not.

Water use in Utah has changed as the state has evolved. In the early days, farming and ranching was a primary use for water. So, the majority of early water rights were for these uses. As the population of cities increased, more water rights were appropriated for municipal use. And now, as our cities continue to grow, Water Conservancy Districts are more important than ever, as they watch out for our water resources for current and future generations.

However, water conservancy and management is too important to the community to have a majority on the board just representing one or two special interests. Large private water holders (as most agricultural users are) on the water conservancy district boards often represent a financial conflict of interest. Additionally, the power of the county commissioners to continue to appoint the same people to water boards term after term may also be questioned as a conflict of interest, as some commissioners hold their seats for decades and their influence over who is selected to board positions may not always be in the best interest of everyone else.

Let’s Change the Law
To ensure that Water Conservancy Districts are working on behalf of the best interests of the citizens of our state, I propose that we make the process more democratic by changing Utah State Law so that Water Conservancy District board members are elected in non-partisan races, instead of being appointed. I also agree with a recent Spectrum Editorial Board opinion that Water Conservancy Board members should be subject to term limits.

Changing the way Water Board members are chosen would enable ordinary citizens to take part in the democratic process and provide opportunities for more people to be involved in important community decisions.

Some say that changing Utah code to allow for elected water board members would be difficult, and that doing so would affect too many water conservancy districts throughout the state of Utah. But I believe change is good. Without change, we are stuck with old antiquated laws that don't serve people and don't account for our growing and diverse communities. As Southwestern Utah continues to grow, it is important that we all work together - elected officials and constituents - to find common ground and equally beneficial solutions. When special boards are accountable only to county commissioners and other elected officials, it leaves the public out of the process and can lead to back room deals that only benefit a select few.

I believe in a representative democracy. When state goals are pursued through un-elected boards and commissions, government is less accountable to the people it is sworn to protect.

Investing in Our Children

2006-08-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

Recently, I heard someone say that the cure for Utah's Public Education problem rests in the support and creation of public charter schools. Now, this isn't a post about public charter schools, because I don't mind charter schools. I would like to have more research about them and how they will impact education funding for a regular public school... but right off the top, they don't send me running for the hills.

What really caught my attention, however, was that this person was talking about charter schools as the "cure" for Utah's Public Education woes. I had to stop and think... what is the problem with Utah Education, anyway? Is it so broken that we have to throw out all the public schools and start over?

Charter schools are public schools open to all students. They operate on public funds without tuition, just like a regular public school. From what I can see as an outsider, the main difference between a charter school and a regular public school is the level of parental involvement in the child's education. Charter schools are generally started by parents who want more input in their child's learning, and want more input regarding the curriculum taught within the school.

So is that it? Is that the problem? Not enough parental involvement?

To try to understand what the perceived problem is, I did some more research. I figured that the best way to determine what is going wrong is to look at how well (or poorly) Utah students are doing. What surprised me, is that in spite of Utah's blatant refusal to fully fund public education, at first glance it looks as though Utah students tend to perform *higher* than students in other states. It would appear that Utah teachers are doing a fabulous job with less resources than ever.

If you look at the data a little more closely, however, it begins to break down. For example, Utah students' writing scores are below average. And, when you separate the scores of our students based on things like ethnic group or economic status, our Caucasian students are below the national Caucasian average, our ethnic minority students are below the national ethnic minority average, and, the most startling of all, Utah students suffer from some of the largest achievement gaps in the country.

The Deseret news reported in July 2005:

"Achievement gaps between whites and minorities and the haves and have-nots have taken center stage under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Controversy erupted in Utah ...when the state challenged the federal law's reach in Utah schools. Advocates feared Utah would end up ignoring performance of ethnic minorities and other student groups; state education chiefs vowed that would not happen."

Utah's achievement gap is not anything new. Many Utah schools have been working for years to try to solve the problem. Unfortunately, they need more resources to do it, and some need better systems in place to reach the students who aren't performing well. I think the problem is also compounded by the myriad of federal regulations that tend to weigh down local schools, just making it more difficult for teachers to be successful.

This is all made worse by another problem: Utah is facing a teaching shortage in the next five years. 788 teachers are expected to retire this year. 1/2 of all teachers in Utah leave the profession within the first 5 years.

So while charter schools aren't necessarily a *bad* idea, I don't see how they will solve the achievement gap problem. Really, I think fully funding public education and working to educate all of Utah's children and help them to be successful is a completely different issue. Charter schools won't fix this problem, unless there are charter schools specifically geared to minority and underachieving students.

That brings me right back to my question... is it parental involvement that makes the difference? Maybe. But if the achievement gap occurs because of lack of parental involvement, then a charter school won't help, it would seem to reason that it is likely that the parents of the underachievers won't rally together to get the charter school started in the first place. It isn't necessarily because these parents are deadbeat parents, either. Chances are that moms and dads are are working two jobs just to make ends meet. They just don't have the *time* to be involved, no matter how much they would like to be.

I believe that every child deserves a quality education, whether or not their parents are highly involved. Some may not like that sentiment. The fact is, 90% of Utah's children attend public schools, and yet the Utah Public Education System continues to beg for every penny and the Utah legislature treats them like they don't deserve it.

A recent report by the Utah Foundation shows how dramatically our funding effort has decreased over the last 10 years. Basically, if we had at least kept up our funding effort, we would have $600,000,000 MORE dollars than we do now, or roughly $1,000,000 PER school. That's a lot of computers, teachers, books, etc. etc. etc. (See Paradox Lost: Utah's Public Education Funding Effort No Longer Surpasses the Nation)

So, when it comes to charter schools, I respectfully disagree. The cure to Utah's education problem does not lie within charter schools. The cure to Utah's education problem lies within fully funding it.

It's All About Family Values

2006-08-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Utah likes to talk a lot about “Family Values” – Utah’s strong commitment to family and children is a major reason that we returned to Utah and why we live in Cedar City, because it is a great place to raise kids.

The Hollingshead Family, 2006

In all things that affect Utah's families, we should be setting the standard for the rest of the nation to follow. We should always do everything we can to help Utah families to be successful.

First of all, I believe we can fully fund education and give teachers what they need to be successful. I also believe we can do it without undue tax burdens. We can give our schools the resources they require without raising taxes. It’s just a matter of choices & priorities coupled with dedication to get it done. If elected to the Utah Senate, I pledge to make public schools the the very best choice for our children, and I promise to do it without undue tax burdens. As a state that values its children, we should be at the top of the list, not at the bottom. Investing in our children is a FAMILY VALUE.

I believe that every person in the state of Utah should have access to basic quality health services at a cost they can afford. A growing number of children in Utah do not get the health care they need because their families do not have insurance. As a state that values its children, we can and we should do better. Affordable health care is not a luxury. Making sure that kids and families get the health services they need is a FAMILY VALUE.

I believe that Utah families deserve a break! The average Utah family will spend $528 on school supplies this year. This is in addition to the many other fees associated with sending a child back to school. To help ease this burden, I support a tax cut like the back-to-school sales tax holiday. A ‘Back-to-School’ sales tax holiday puts real money back into the pockets of Utah families who already contribute so much to Utah’s growing economy.

I support removing the remaining portion of the state sales tax on food. If the sales tax on food were removed, food products would be less expensive and easier to purchase. This means parents would have an easier time feeding their kids. It means that people on a fixed or limited income would be able to stretch their dollars further at the grocery store. In short, it would mean that fewer people in the state of Utah would go without enough to eat-and that is a cause we can all rally behind.

Helping Utah families by providing them with common sense tax breaks - that's a FAMILY VALUE!

The families who live in Senate District 28 have a community spirit that is second to none. Our area is brimming with good families who believe in a vision for Utah, and people like you who believe they can make, and are making, a difference.

I believe in UTAH FAMILIES. As your Senator, I will work hard to represent the values and issues that are most important to you, and I will always fight for YOUR family. I do not subscribe to "Petty Partisan Politics" nor do I believe that decisions affecting Southern Utah and our rural communities should be dictated by Wasatch Front politicians. As your Senator, I will listen to your ideas and fight hard to make sure that your voice is heard. I am inspired by what you do, I am energized by what you have to say, and am looking forward to what we can do together for Utah.

Rob Miller for Davis County Commissioner

2006-08-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

I don't live in Davis County. I only know a few people who DO live in Davis County. My uncle lives there. And a guy I went to college with a million years ago, I think his parents still live there. There may be others, but the sum total of people I know in Davis County doesn't add up to much. But still, I want to tell them, and everyone in Davis County, that they need to support Rob Miller for County Commissioner.

I met Rob through my association with the Utah Democratic Party. Rob was also very instrumental in getting me to just go for it and run for the Utah Senate. At first he told me it was "OK" to be the sacrificial name on the ballot - he told me that it was OK if I didn't do anything but just put my name out there. However, once I decided to GO, and run a real campaign for senate seat 28, Rob has been one of my biggest cheerleaders. Recently, Rob shared his thoughts on being an LDS Democrat. I felt inspired to weigh in on the subject and shared some of those thoughts right here on this blog.

There are many reasons that I think Rob Miller will make a great county commissioner. First of all, he is just an all around nice guy... and niceness DOES COUNT in politics. Second of all, Rob is approachable - you will never see Rob Miller hide behind titles or refuse to talk to his constituents. He will always be available and willing to to talk to anybody who has a question or concern. Rob stands up for people! Third, and most important, Rob has a good plan for Davis County! His platform is about Davis County families, and what it means to have ethical government. I believe Rob will follow through with every single thing that he says he will do if elected as a Davis County Commissioner. Rob comes from a long line of public service, and Davis County will be lucky to have him. We need people like Rob Miller serving in Utah government!

Thank you, Rob, for putting yourself out there and for getting the rest of us to follow your lead. I wish you much success in the coming months.

My very best regards,

Emily Bingham Hollingshead
Candidate for Utah Senate District 28

Iron County Tax Increase - Not adding up

2006-08-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: I have had several people contact me, asking if I am against the Lake Powell Pipeline. I need to clarify that while I am not inherently *against* the pipeline, I would like to learn more about the proposed plan and gain a better understanding of how this is all going to work. I am a proponent of smart growth, so long as the environment is considered and we are looking to the future... that is, every single thing that we do in government must be done with future generations in mind. We absolutely must consider how it will impact our children and our children's children, the air that they breath and the land on which they will live.

The post that follows really is more directed to my opponent who seems to think that as an elected senator, he could have stopped this tax increase from happening... except that he is a county commissioner who appointed the board who levied the tax in the first place. I'm curious how that all would have worked out.

*****

If you live in Iron County and haven't heard about the recent 1300% water district / property tax hike and the surrounding uproar, you are probably living under a rock, and not in Iron County.

It goes something like this: Last year, the water conservancy district charged a .000094 tax rate. So on a $200,000 property with a 45-percent exclusion, taxpayers paid $10.34 to the district.

After Senate Bill 111 passed in March, the water district can charge a rate of .001. So on the same $200,000 property, homeowners will pay $110. By the way, Sen. Tom Hatch sponsored the bill and it passed 26 /3 - the 3 representatives not present on voting day include Southern Utah Sens. Hatch and Hickman. (I thought that was an interesting sidebar, just a little food for thought.)

So regarding this 1300% tax increase - the community is outraged, as well it should be. Many Iron County residents say this is called "taxation without representation" and many are wondering why a water board, appointed by our county commissioners, has the authority to tax residents in the first place?

An Interesting Twist

In the midst of all the hullabaloo, my Republican opponent has told people that if elected to the Utah Senate, he will reign in the water board, and make certain that citizens don't get these crazy tax hikes.

I think that's a great campaign promise. People will probably listen to him and they will probably like that. Gosh, I would like to say the same thing... so I'll say it now "if elected to the Utah Senate, I promise to reign in the water board and make sure that you, Joe Taxpayer, don't have to be subjected to crazy tax hikes."

However, as great of a campaign promise that it is, I am still wondering where Mr. Commissioner was when the tax hike came down in the first place?

From my research, the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District has been talking about a huge tax levy since its budget hearing in December 2005. Where was the commissioners' outrage then? You would think that at least a County Commissioner should have known what was coming down the pike. And as outraged as he said he is, he should have been yelling his head off about it. Instead, he gives the impression that he was just as shocked as everyone else... even IF it was his buddy Tom Hatch who wrote the bill that allowed for the tax increase in the first place. He really didn't know this was going to happen? I have a hard time believing that.

I'm not a water expert and I don't have all of the information YET about how this all works. However, it seems to me an idle campaign promise to say that you can't "reign in the water district" until you're the senator...why don't you have this power already when you are a part of the commission that appoints the members to the board? And so, while it is frustrating that the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District can impose taxes on Iron County residents without our input, it is even more difficult to understand why the County Commissioners didn't do something about it when it first hit the fan.

There will be a lot of opinions on this subject in the coming weeks and I promise I will be watching this issue like a hawk. I also would like to hear someone's opinion on why the County Commissioners AND the Water District didn't think it was necessary to do a better job in preparing us for this huge blow.

That darned abortion question

2006-08-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

In my campaign travels I have had some good people ask me about my position on abortion. I hate the question because as a democrat, I am labled as pro-something-or-other without a lot of opportunity to explain my position. I thought I would post my feelings on it here. This appeared at OneUtah.org approximately 2 weeks ago. I am reposting it here for your reading pleasure. ;-) And I've updated it just a bit for clarity.

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I wish we could move beyond the abortion discussion, because it makes life tough for LDS democrats like myself who have a different point of view.

Abortion is always a tragic choice, resulting from some kind of breakdown… whether it be breakdown in equipment or education. Trouble is we’re having the wrong discussion about abortion. The conservatives scream “End all abortions!” and yet the real way to end abortion is to end the number of unwanted pregnancies in the first place. Every pregnancy should be a wanted pregnancy. But we have inconsistent ideas when it comes to how we’re going to help those kids AND their moms get a fair chance in life.

In a community like Utah it is sometimes hard for good LDS people to understand that in some places in the world, women don’t have the support that they need to be successful mothers. We have the LDS Relief Society and extended family to buoy us up. Many many many women in this country don’t have such support. And so, when Democrats champion things like Head Start, All Day Kindergarten, and WIC, we are sometimes met with incredible opposition, with the critics yelling about “social programs.” So which way should it be? For me, I say we take care of the children and mothers and help them to be successful. I say let’s do an even better job of educating about birth control and encouraging abstinence when possible.

I’m afraid that the staunchest of conservatives want to have it both ways - no abortion and no social education. To me, it’s a no brainer. If you want to end the whole abortion problem in this country, then we must work harder at educating women and assisting women, who carry both the burden of the choice and the responsibility of the child. I agree that abortion is a poor excuse for birth control, but this is also a result of lack of education. We also need to really start talking about making adoption tax credits *permanent* and other ways we can help a mom through an unwanted pregnancy so that she can really choose NOT giving up on life.

As for the discussion about the Democratic platform and their commitment to a woman’s choice, I agree that there needs to be a bigger umbrella on this issue. That is why I like the "Democrats for Life" plan to reduce the number of abortions in America within 10 years. I may disagree with them on some other issues, but this plan is a winner. On the flip side, the Republicans have yelled and yelled about abortion, but abortion is still legal in this country. Finally, I think it would be wonderful if we could *all* see the sanctity of life *across the board.* Pro-life means a million things to me… life without poverty, life without hunger, and the list goes on.

July 24 - Pioneer Day Photos

2006-08-01T22:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry to all who have asked to see the July 24 photos -- I have had too much going on in the past week to get this done! The campaign is in full swing! Enjoy!

Wayne & Katie Holland sport their Matheson Tshirts - it was so nice of them to come and support Iron County Democrats!

From the Utah Amicus - "Sacrament Meeting"

2006-07-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

I just read a great post by Rob Miller, Vice-Chairman of the Utah Democrats, candidate for Davis County Commissioner, and faithful member of the LDS Church.

You can read it in its entirety, here: The Utah Amicus: Sacrament Meeting

I wrote to Rob and told him I have some repenting to do.

My response:

Rob -Thank you so much for this post. I couldn't agree with you more, and feel the same outrage that you do when I hear these things from the LDS pulpit.

For years, I have been a complete wimp when it came to "coming out" as an LDS Democrat. Just call me Wimp-essa-von-wimpenstien. Even though I've always been active in the Democratic party, I have always been *quiet* about it. I'd tell my friends at the newspaper to not quote me, to not put my picture there, and to please not put anything about ME and politics on the home page. As a result, I could quietly vote as I wanted to, I could support Democrats financially and emotionally, and I could go along with my daily life, being the Stake Music Chairman and "just like the rest of the Mormons" but keep my political thoughts to myself.

Then this strange thing happened. I decided to run (with your prodding and good council) for the Utah Senate. At first, I was content to be a "name on the ballot." That evolved to running a good and aggressive race, but no way no how would I tell people that I'm a democrat, no donkeys on my signs, I'll just leave people guessing as to what political party I belong to. After all, I'm "just like them" and they'll choose me! After reading your post today, I have some repenting to do. Of course I am a proud Utah Democrat, and I want the world to know it.

No LDS Democrat should have to sit through church and endure talks like that. I commend you for going to your stake high councilman and telling him what's what! The next time that happens in my stake, I'm going to stand up for myself.

Finally, I say this. As people have rallied around to support me in my race for senate, several have stated that they cannot *publically* support me because *I am a Democrat.* This line of thinking only has happened because those of us who are LDS Democrats have been too wimpy!

I'm ready for change. I'm ready to get out there and challenge the thinking a little bit.

Thank you so much for your good example and for making me get off my duff and do some good in the world. I appreciate you and all that you do.

Utah is Great because Utah's Public Employees are Great!

2006-07-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

I was invited to speak at the UPEA Color Country BBQ tonight. All of the Democrats were there and also, my opponent was there. Here is the text of my speech and a photo.

Emily

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Thank you so much for inviting me to be here with you tonight. I think that the UPEA is a great organization. I especially love the UPEA because due to my husband’s employment, we get great prices on tickets to Disneyland every year!

OK, joking aside… Not only does the UPEA provide a great Disneyland Benefit, and many other benefits to the employees of Utah, but they act as your voice in important matters, such as your interests within the Utah Legislature. They fight hard for you and what matters most to you and your families. I am honored to be associated with the UPEA, and am glad for the many things it does for Utah’s public employees.

I was born in Ogden Utah in the summer of 1967. Shortly after I was born, my dad took a job with Xerox Corporation, and moved his little family to San Jose, California where I was raised. I would look forward to every summer vacation when my family would return to Northern Utah where we would spend time with grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts, uncles and cousins. My fondest memories include riding with my grandpa Bingham on his tractor as he worked on his farm. I remember the smell of alfalfa and the sound of the sprinklers tick tick ticking as I slept in my grandmother’s guest room with the windows open. Mostly, though, I remember a strong sense of family and I remember my grandparents teaching me about the generations that came before me. My grandparents were both “public employees:” My grandmother worked for the Weber County School District as the lunch room coordinator, planning meals for Weber County children for well over 20 years. My grandfather was a federal employee, employed by the IRS. And so, I come from a good and proud heritage of public service.

I also come from a long line of good pioneer stock. I learned at an early age about my ancestors who built this great state on the important values of hard work, dedication to a common goal, and of service to one another. My two boys are building their own memories as they spend time with their grandparents at their summer home in Kane County. I have good parents who are teaching my two boys the value of hard work, the importance of service, and about their pioneer legacy.

I always wanted to live in Utah. I attended Ricks College in Idaho and finally Utah State University, where I met and married Mark Hollingshead. We then returned to California where he received his masters degree. After he completed graduate school and internships, we returned here, and shortly after that, he became a Utah Public Employee. He is employed by the Division of Child and Family Services, and works as the Child Protective Services Supervisor.

Today, I am seeking to represent you as your Senator in Utah Senate District 28. I am seeking this position because of good people like you: Hard working Utah Employees who are making a difference in the lives of many people in our great state.

Utah likes to talk a lot about “Family Values” – – Utah’s strong commitment to family and children is a major reason that we returned to Utah and why we live in Cedar City, because it is a great place to raise a family. And so, as a state that values families, isn’t it about time that State employees receive DECENT pay increases? Unfortunately, I would know something about this, because I am married to a state employee. I happen to have a special interest in this subject, but I also believe that fair wages should be applicable to everyone, both in the state and the private sectors and that government wages should be competitive with the current market wages.

We always hear the myth that Utah Public Employees don't mind being paid less because they enjoy what they do so much. I say it is time to change this thinking. Utah public employees love what they do and we need to pay them what they are worth!

I also believe that Utah must continue to keep its promises to its state employees. “Good benefits” are not enough if we continue to change our mind about what we want to give them. Legislation such as HB 213 should have never been introduced without the input or support of Utah’s Public Employees. It was not a good thing to introduce and pass this bill without input and planning from Utah’s public employees. In the future, Utah’s public employees must ALWAYS be brought into the decision making process. As a result of HB213, hundreds of your very best have taken early retirement – and their many combined years of experience went right along with them. This was an unforeseen loss. It will take years to gain that kind of experience and expertise. We must keep the promises we make to our public employees

However, in spite of things like HB213, Utah is great, because Utah’s Public Employees are great. Utah works because of people like you who give time and energy every day to your respective jobs. I celebrate your service and your commitment to this great state! I believe in YOU and your FAMILIES. As your Senator, I will work hard to represent the values and issues that are most important to you. I do not subscribe to "Petty Partisan Politics" nor do I believe that decisions affecting Southern Utah and our rural communities should be dictated by Wasatch Front politicians. As your Senator, I will listen to your ideas and fight hard to make sure that your voice is heard. I am inspired by what you do, I am energized by what you have to say, and am looking forward to what we can do together for Utah.

My name is Emily Bingham Hollingshead, I am the Voice of Your Values and I am running for Utah State Senate. Thank you so much for your time.

Happy Birthday America!

2006-07-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

Emily for Utah Senate!

Today we are celebrating the 4th of July, and I had my "coming out" party - walked in the parade, waved to many supporters and friends, and we passed out 1000 flags that said "Vote for Emily." Here are some photos of my parade entourage - special thanks to my friends who were able to join me, and to my family for walking along side us and waving to the crowd. A very special thanks to Jamie Cyphers for driving his beautiful bass boat and hauling some very cute kids (including my own.) Also thank you to JR Davenport for driving his pretty white Escalade and leading the way.

Family and Friends, half of them are "Republicans for Emily"

My sister, Angela Bingham, with my two favorite sons... Chas (left) and Sam.

The Boat

Jamie's Truck

The Larry Daniel for Utah District 72 Crowd
Larry and Kristen's cute daughters - Shelby and ChyAnn
You can see JR Davenport's "Emily" Escalade in the background

Larry Daniel for House District 72

We all are looking for leaders who will follow through with their promises.

2006-07-02T23:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, so tonight I had a conversation with one of my "Uber-Volunteers" - this woman is amazing and is doing an incredible job while putting my "Emily for Utah Senate" 4th of July parade entry together. I won't fill you in on the details, because it is going to be an amazing thing. That post will come later.

So this wonderful woman has been rallying the support of all kinds of people - many of them are friends and acquaintances of mine through my web site design business. Others know me from church. Others don't know me at all but are willing to step out and support me anyway. She is putting an amazing group of people together, which I love and appreciate, and it will make all the difference in the world.

However, a few of the people she has contacted have responded very strangely to her request to help me. It is always "Well, I am a REPUBLICAN!" and when she presses further and asks if they would consider helping me anyway, she is met with difficult resistance. I am finding this hard to take. Especially when the "resistor" is someone who I know, someone I have worked with, or have even done church work with. Are they really THAT worried about supporting a democrat? What do they think will happen to them if they step out and show support? It is not like they don't know me, and have to "get to know me" and what I stand for. And the big question, the one that is pressing on my mind and giving me a headache is ... what do they think I will do in the Utah Senate that they will not agree with?

Anyone who knows me will recognize right off the bat that I take these things far too personally. I need to grow thicker skin, this is certain. But of all the people in this big vast Senate district, I suppose I expect more out of the people who know me, who have had conversations with me, who have been there when I've taught church lessons or conducted my ward and stake choirs, who have taught my children in primary and Sunday school, who have worked with me on church committees, who have hired me for website projects, who have always felt good about the things that I've done for them. When I hear the "humming and hawing" because I am a Democrat, it does more than make my head hurt... it makes my pride hurt, and gives me reason to stop and wonder what on earth I am doing this for.

But here is the thing. Many weeks ago I came to grips with the fact that if elected to the Utah Senate, I will be representing *all* of the people in this District. Registered Democrats only take up a very small part of this population. The other 90 percent are registered republicans and unafilliated voters. As a senator, I would represent *all* of them. Anybody who thinks I would go to the Utah Senate to only promote what the democrats want neither know me or understand what I really am all about.

I suppose I am writing this entry to ask people to investigate just a little bit deeper. I encourage them to email me or call me if they have any question whatsoever about how I would represent them in the Utah Senate. I ask those who have dug their heels in as "staunch republicans" to try to step back a little bit and ask them to try to feel better about the possibility of supporting me.

I do not believe this is a losing battle. I know that I have the ability to do this job. I don't think it matters what political party a person comes from, or what their background is. The truth of it is that we are all are looking for leaders who will follow through with their promises and who will make good, common-sense decisions for Utah. Republican or Democrat does not matter, because a good idea is a good idea. I pledge to *always* support the good ideas.

I am for ALL Utah families, not just the democratic families or the republican families. I believe in *all* of Utah's citizens, not just those who agree with me 100% on every issue. I plan to talk to thousands of people in the coming months, and to help them understand why voting for Emily for Utah Senate would be a good thing. I will promise them that voting for a Democrat, and even publically supporting a Democrat will not hurt one bit. I have been voting for both Democrats and Republicans for years - and I have even lived to tell about it. ;-)

After all, this is about PEOPLE, not POLITICS. Representing the people of District 28 will require that I understand what the people want, not what some political party or politician tells me that I should do. I promise to live by this creed and to always do the right thing.

Celebrate the 222

2006-07-01T22:37:00.000-07:00

As we prepare for the July 4 celebrations this week, I have been pondering the 222 and their safe return back to Southern Utah. I am sure that many families are now relieved that their loved ones are home, safe and sound.

A great editorial appeared in the Spectrum this past week. Instead of re-inventing the wheel, I am reposting it here, because it sums up exactly how I feel. I have always said that it does not matter how you feel about the Iraq War - these men and women who are serving our country deserve our highest level of respect. There is nothing more difficult than doing what they have done, and there is nothing more trying on a family to have a mother or father, son or daughter, husband or wife, away from an extended period of time, especially when they are in such a dangerous situation. And so, without further adieu, here is the article in its entirety. And yes, the Mark Hollingshead mentioned herein is the same Mark Hollingshead who is married to yours truly.

Welcome home, 222. We are *all* proud of you.

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Celebrate Troops Success
From the Spectrum, June 26, 2006

Nearly 2,500 United States soldiers have lost their lives and tens of thousands have been seriously injured since the Iraq war began in March 2003. It is chilling to contemplate what these soldiers and their families have sacrificed, but it is our charge now to celebrate their service and honor their contributions.

Though America has divided its allegiance to the Bush administration and the rightness of the mission - with nearly 60 percent saying the United States made a mistake in going to war in an Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted, June 9 - Southern Utah's loyalty to the troops has been steadfast.

Even those opposed to the Iraq war knew not to place their anger and blame at the feet of the soldiers sent to fight, but toward the bureaucrats who sent them. Antiwar protesters donated Kevlar body armor to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan; and, closer to home, the welcoming home ceremonies for the Utah National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery planned in Cedar City and St. George have been made possible by grassroots, public and private partnerships - regardless of political party affiliation.

In fact, forethought of what would await the Triple Deuce, mentally and emotionally, was also heavily considered with the unanimous passage of House Bill 407, Counseling for Families of Veterans. The mandate was spearheaded by two Iron County Democrats - Mark Hollingshead and Larry Daniel - despite their national party's vehement opposition to the war. It was also sponsored by a Democrat, Rep. Tim Cosgrove of Murray, and supported by the Guard, the State Department of Veterans Affairs and other veterans groups.

This bipartisan support that occurred late in the state legislature's general session is also the unfailing support extended to all Armed Forces troops, not just the Triple Deuce. Now is our time to stand up and be counted and commemorate the military duties that have been fulfilled, and those still yet to be fulfilled.

It is going to take more than pasting decals on car bumpers or yellow ribbons that read "Support Our Troops." All returning soldiers are going to need validation. Accounts have been set up to assure the ceremonies do just that; but in the meantime, these soldiers deserve some private, uninterrupted time with their families to reorient themselves from a battle abroad that has created 550,000 Iraq war veterans in the last four years.

Here in Southern Utah, as in other parts of America, our devotion to the troops transcends politics, religion and personal opinion about the war. We can rejoice in what these brave defenders of freedom have accomplished. It's their glory that matters, not the adversarial climate surrounding the war and the political panderings so prevalent during an election year.
So, attend the ceremonies, contribute to the bank accounts, wave the U.S. flag and express your gratitude to every soldier you meet.

Originally published June 26, 2006

Tuesday June 20 is "Meet the Governor" Day

2006-06-21T19:47:00.000-07:00

One really cool thing about being friends with Wayne Holland (Utah's Democratic Party Chairman) is that when I'm in Salt Lake City for any number of reasons, I get to visit with Wayne Holland, and sometimes he introduces me to important people.

Yesterday, June 20, I went up to SLC to attend the Democratic Candidate Legislative Fundraiser Breakfast. I talked to several people at the breakfast, including Senator Mike Dimitrich who is from Price and who is a *really* nice guy. I also had a good conversation with Pat Jones and Carol Spackman-Moss, who are *both* classy women whom I admire.

After the breakfast, Wayne Holland asked me if I wanted to go a swearing in ceremony for Darcy Dixon Pignanelli, who is a new tax commissioner for the state of Utah. I agreed, and a group of us headed for the ceremony. After the ceremony, Wayne introduced me to Darcy, who congratulated me on my bid for political office. Right after that, I was introduced to Mayor Dan Snarr, Mayor of Murray, Utah. We had a wonderful conversation about how hard it is to run as a Democrat in such a "red" state, but he congratulated me and said that it sometimes is harder to stick to your guns and stay with your convictions - a lesser person would have registered as a Republican to ensure political clout and a win. He said that no matter what, Doing What's Right is indicative of a strong character and he was happy that I had done the right thing. These conversations are *always* inspiring to me. Mayor Snarr is also Trisha Beck's brother - Trisha is running for Senate District 9 and was instrumental in helping me to make my decision to run for office. Great family.

Before we left, Wayne marched us right up to the front of the room, and introduced us to Governor Jon Huntsman. I have always liked Governor Huntsman, and I was not surprised that he was kind and cordial, and even wished me the best of luck in my race for Senate District 28, even as a Democrat. We had a nice 90 second chat and the governor was on his way.

All in all, a great day.

What I Like Best About Utah

2006-06-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

I just read a great article in the Deseret Morning News which reports that Utahns of all ages volunteer their time more than the residents of any other state. This speaks volumes about the character of people who live here, and just goes to show that Utah is filled with good people who are working hard to make a difference in the lives of others. In this day of "what's in it for me" it is good to know that Utahns want to give their time and energy to worthy things.

I, too, was raised in this tradition of volunteerism and spirit of giving back to my community. I remember when I was 12, there was an outbreak of Fruit Flies in the Bay Area. I remember the newscasts "The Fruit Flies are Coming!" and the experts were urging all residents to pick the fruit so that it would not go to waste and also so that it would somehow encourage the fruit flies to "move along." We lived in an area known for its *great* fruit, and there were different varieties of just about every kind in just about every yard. And so, the young men and young women in my ward got together and came up with a plan to help people to pick their fruit. We spent several days in the summer going from house to house, picking fruit. We concentrated on the elderly, first, but quickly moved to other families. This was hard work! But our little group of 15 or so went along for two weeks, going from door to door, asking our neighbors if we could help them pick their fruit.

No time is better spent than that spent in the service of your fellow man. I learned this *early* in life. There is nothing better than helping someone in need. It's even better to help someone when they are least expecting it.

The other night, we were putting sod in our front yard. It was getting dark, but Mark was bound and determined to get it on the ground. And so we went for it. Within about 5 minutes, two neighbors had joined us. They brought big shop lights and their willingness to help us get a job done. Within 45 minutes, we had our entire yard completed.

We were so grateful for the help. We didn't ask for it, and we certainly didn't expect it. But our good neighbors saw that there was something to be done. They didn't ask "why" (although I'm sure they thought we were nuts to be out there at 9:30 pm laying sod) - without judgement they just came along and helped us get the job done.

This is the spirit of Utah. This is what I love about our state. We give so much to our neighbors, our churches and our communities. We understand the bigger picture of "love one another" and we get in and do hard things that are out of our comfort zone because we believe in helping each other. I'm proud to be part of that great spirit.

No Child Left Behind -What Could Have Been

2006-06-07T01:03:00.000-07:00

What “NCLB” *should have been*

Woulda shoulda coulda. That’s what my dad always used to tell me when I would bemoan my 20/20 hindsight. But it’s time for some thoughtful reflection on what *could have been.*

Before I launch into my diatribe about what No Child Left Behind *should* have been, it is important to understand where I am coming from. When I first heard the phrase “No Child Left Behind” I thought it was a *beautiful* concept. Without knowing anything about the legislation or how it impacted public education or even how much it would cost or who voted for it, I thought it sounded like a wonderful thing. No Child Left Behind. Every Child A Success Story. All Children Will Succeed Because of No Child Left Behind.

Now, however, after seeing NCLB at work, I don’t quite get it. In my myopic view of things, I can’t figure out how this thing is actually helping our kids succeed in school. I feel that if a kid doesn’t fit a mold or a teacher doesn’t play the game right, then some child is going to get left behind. I know kids who are not model students, and yet they are creative, talented and even intelligent people. Does NCLB have room for these kids, and does it really help them by trying to fit them into a “mold” of the ideal student? Some kids don’t test well at all. How about the teachers who are really wonderful and really talented, but who aren’t “highly qualified” by some set of standards determined by some bureaucrat somewhere? I know there are a lot of variables to this thing, and maybe there are answers to my questions, and even reasons why NCLB is a “good idea.” I’m simply saying that from my point of view, the program seems too big, too political, and too bureaucratic to actually be effective. And I *hate* standardized testing. I don’t understand how standardized tests help kids learn, especially if you’re starting out with a teacher who doesn’t know how to teach. Disclaimer – not all teachers fall into this category, but there are plenty out there with a bad attitude who are less than inspiring. I do not see one bit of evidence that teachers are any better now than they were before this whole thing got started. Because really, what we’re talking about is providing a better education for America’s kids. No Child Left Behind was supposed to do that. But all I see is “business as usual.”

So I have a better idea.

It’s time for a paradigm-shift, folks.

Utah’s Department of Child and Family Services is one place we could look to see a complete paradigm shift from “business as usual.” In 2000 DCFS introduced this really cool thing called “The Practice Model” the impetus behind it being a class action lawsuit brought against the State during 1993 that alleged Federal constitutional and statutory violations in the operation of Utah’s child welfare system. During 1994, a settlement agreement was reached that gave Utah 4 years to cure the violations, at which time the agreement would terminate. All DCFS regions, local communities, allied agency partners, parents & families in the system, and advisors from across the State were given an opportunity to submit recommendations through a series of community forums. This collaborative process for developing a new model of practice also resulted in the identification of necessary practice skills. The result of all this input resulted in “The Practice Model.”

Basically, the Practice Model resulted in a major Paradigm-Shift for Utah’s Department of Child and Family Services. This initiative required a philosophical change from a law-based, compliance model to a social work, strengths-based model.

Changes were made in policy and practice to reflect the new model. Today, other states come to Utah, specifically the Southwest Region (that includes my home of Iron County) to learn about Utah's Practice Model - because it is working. Utah's Child Welfare system has completely changed and leads the nation in returning children to their natural parents, and has the lowest incidence of repeats into the system. Translation: Kids aren't removed from homes for insignificant reasons, Kids who are removed are returning home sooner, and kids who really can't go home are placed in permanent homes faster. The system *changed* and Utah has rewritten the way Child Welfare must do business.

So, where am I going with all of this and what in the world does it have to do with NCLB?

In my view, NCLB should have been a “Practice Model” - the ideal that all schools should strive for. And instead of forcing all US schools to adopt its policies *or else*, it would have been far more effective to call it an “initiative” that school districts could buy into. It could have been a training program, developed to help local school districts produce teachers and administrators who are the *Best* of the best, or the “wave of the future” – instead of mandating testing, it could have provided educators with an opportunity to learn about how to really teach kids, be trained by the best of the best in things that work and things that don’t, with the end result being that kids retain more information and do better and become better citizens.

As a nation, we could have developed a brain trust to learn about what is working in countries like

Finland

, considered to produce the smartest children in the world, and draw on their strengths and learn from what they already know. Their emphasis is *completely* different. NCLB *could have been* an opportunity for us to really change focus and try something new.

The beautiful thing about what *could have been* is it would have emphasized a total paradigm shift in how educators help kids to learn. What *could have been* is an opportunity for parents to be involved by providing input to the NCLB drafters – because I think parents are the only experts when it comes to their children. NCLB *could have been* America’s next “Brave new Frontier” – where we could have been pioneers, paving the way, and setting the new standard in how kids are taught and how they learn.

Instead we have a federal program that requires school districts and state legislatures to jump through hoops in order to keep their funding.

And I can tell you first hand that this is not working.

The worst part is that we're stuck with this NCLB thing, more pressure is being put on school districts, students, parents (as if we don't worry our kids enough) - and nothing has really *changed* about how we educate kids.

I say it is time for Utah Educators to develop a new practice model. We need a paradigm shift. I truly believe that people who really want to become educators have their hearts in the right place. I don't want to step on any toes here, but in my view they have all been trained in an old, antiquated system that only works some of the time, and doesn't work for every person. I like to think "outside of the box" and find creative ways to solve problems.

I like with this "Emily for Utah Senate 28" reader had to say:

"If we want educational choice, let's make ALL schools "choice" schools. We can't do this while piling the regulations on one one side of the coin while easing up on others. Let's get the federal and state governments out of the ed business so much and concentrate on local control."

I would take this to another level - that the federal and state governments should not mandate so much of what is to be done in the schools, but instead provide assistance and training to help the districts succeed at what they do best. That's what NCLB *should* have been.

In the final analysis, I say that in order to make all schools "choice schools" I think we need a paradigm shift. Let's face it - we live in a different world and everything is changing. Shouldn't we rethink the way we are teaching our kids?

Educational Choice

2006-06-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

Today I was cruising around Blog World and found an interesting discussion regarding paying Utah teachers what they are worth. Several folks on this blog were proponents of educational choice. I did enjoy one anonymous post, where the poster said "those of us who CHOOSE to send our children to public schools would sure like to have higher confidence in our public schools again" (or something to that effect).

I have tried to understand the "school choice" argument for a long time. Since I live in Cedar City where there really aren't any viable private schools, and since SUU is the number one employer, followed by the Iron County School District, I don't see how "educational choice" would make much of a difference here.... if you believe the argument that giving parents a choice in education helps public schools to perform better, I am not so sure that Cedar City or Iron County or *any* of the counties in Senate Dist. 28 would benefit much. I don't think we have the income or the population base or the wages to put that much pressure on the public schools. If parents want to send their kids to private schools, that is absolutely their choice. Likewise, if a parent wants to homeschool their kids, that is absolutely a choice they are entitled to make.

NOW... I don't want this to spiral into a conversation about tuition tax credits and school vouchers. I have long held the idea that by giving public money to private schools, we run the risk of greater regulation of private schools. The cry of “accountability” for schools receiving “public money” would be irresistible. Also, many rural areas of our state receive absolutely no benefit from educational choice. (Panguitch comes to mind, where the population is dwindling, not growing.)

So, let's imagine that in 2007 the Utah Legislature decided to fully fund education, and that somehow they worked out their medicaid problems and were still able to provide all necessary funding for transportation. Everybody had what they needed and everybody could do what they wanted. Would this *do it* for Utah Education?

As I have said before, as a community and a state that values its children, we should make sure that Utah schools are at the top of the list and not at the bottom.

But how do we do this?

While I think we can all agree that education must be fully-funded, we also know that just throwing cash at it does not necessarily make for better education.

What to do about this paradox?

Utahns are known for being creative. We have a long history of being industrious and making the impossible happen - creating a flourishing community in the middle of the desert comes to mind.

So, with that thought, we really must get creative to make our public schools the very best that they can be. There are million and one things we could do - both at the local levels and from the legislature. We need to work in conjunction with the school boards and the Utah Educators to make sure that we are getting the best teachers around.

I still argue that you get better performance out of people who are paid better, and that the best teachers *would* stay in Utah if they were paid competitively.

(as a sidebar, I have a brother in law who will not move to Utah because he is a teacher, and he can make more money in Colorado. Doesn't matter if his whole family is here (brothers, parents, etc.), he simply won't take a pay cut. He's a pretty good teacher and football coach. But we'll never see the likes of him in these parts. ;-) )

How do we determine who are the best teachers? We can't do it based on the number of A's students get, because then teachers would just hand out A's. If we did it by test scores, there would be corruption in the testing system (as some say there is in the No Child Left Behind).

This is just food for thought. I'm open to creative and thoughtful suggestions.

There Is a Bigger Picture

2006-06-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

I had a great weekend. Our LDS stake put on a "24 hour roadshow" - each ward had exactly 24 hours to produce a script, design costumes and sets, have rehearsals and then present a 7 minute show to the entire stake. The adults worked in the background while the youth (ages 11 and older) learned their parts and choreography.

Being the theatre nut that I am, I was one of the first to volunteer. Mark and I both jumped on the bandwagon and were anxious to get involved and make it a fun experience for *everybody* involved. Our 14 year old son, Chas, also was excited about having a part and putting on the skit.

Our little committee gathered together on Friday night and we quickly decided on a "Napoleon Dynamite" spoof. With the help of two fantastic women, Chas and I wrote the script. The next morning we all met at the church and the hard work began. We have the best youth in our stake! They did a great job, jumped in with full enthusiasm, and by the time we had presented our roadshow on Saturday night, they were all theatre pros! The best part was that our ward won two awards.

Even though it was fun to get to know these kids and to watch them enjoy themselves so much, there is always a bigger picture. It was great to see them *work together* to create a final product. Even though we threw this script at them and some of them felt totally out of their comfort zone, it was *wonderful* when one of them had an idea to make something work better. They worked together to solve problems and make for a great final product. We didn't have any fighting or jealousy, and nobody tried to upstage anybody else. They just took on their responsibilities and WENT for it.

I decided that this is how life should be. Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget the bigger picture. We're all in this together, and no matter how "out of our zone" we feel, it is important to work together to solve problems. For example, in my little family it is great when we all get together and work on a project - the end result is so much more meaningful, because we all play an important part in the process.

There is a bigger picture. We're all in this together. Fighting and standing on our own side doesn't get us anywhere. We should try to think outside of the box and try new things. We should work hard to make sure we're pulling our weight. When we all work together, great things happen.

Politics As Usual?

2006-05-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

This past week, Utah's partisan legislature failed to fund $2,000,000 in Medicaid dental services for Utah's most needy - the disabled, blind and elderly, instead choosing to allocate $15,000,000 for a parking structure. Even though Governor Huntsman found the necessary funding in the *already existing* health department budget, partisan infighting and power struggles resulted in arrogance and a lack of character to do the right thing. It serves clear notice that Utah needs change, or the future will only bring more of the same.
-------------------------------------------------------

It is frustrating to know that in this time of plenty, when the state of Utah had surpluses in excess of $1 billion that we won’t take care of the neediest in our community. The Republican Legislature's failure to vote on basic health care for the poorest among us sorely disappointed the citizens of Utah. Providing the extra Medicaid funds is the right and moral thing to do.

Governor Huntsman did the right thing by putting the item on the special session Call and was able to find the funds within the current Health Department budget. But on party line votes — Republicans opposing the spending, Democrats for it — the $2 million bill was defeated without even letting it be voted on the floor of either chamber.

The Republican infighting was about politics, not serving the interest of our people. We need legislators who stand up for Utah and not their own political interests. Not only was their action a failure on humanitarian grounds, it was a return to backroom deal-making and the lack of courage to allow a floor debate.

I do not subscribe to "petty partisan politics" and will always stand on principle, pledging to always do the right thing for Utah's families.

Let the Campaigning Begin!

2006-05-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official - the State Conventions are over and campaign season is underway. Since the Republicans will have a primary in some of their races, we get to use this time to get organized and get ready for the *real* party. I had a great time at the JJ Dinner and Convention this weekend, met lots of fabulous people, and am energized more than ever. Here's a sneak preview of my booth and my banner, you'll be seeing this a lot in the coming months.

The Beautiful Patricia Jones

2006-05-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

I had the *pleasure* of meeting with Representative Pat Jones the other night. She was in St. George and agreed to do a training for Washington County legislative candidates. Afterward, she asked to take my husband and I for dinner, where we could talk about my campaign and she would give me strategies to WIN!

Mark and I were so impressed with Pat and we hung on every word that she had to say. She is also running for the Utah Senate in her SLC district. I will be watching everything that she does. The best part about meeting with her is that Mark and I realized... we are on the right track! We bounced all of our ideas off of her and we feel like we're definitely headed in the right direction.

This is going to be a fun 6 months.

On the Campaign Trail

2006-05-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

In April, I had more fun than a person should be allowed. I started off my month in New York City, where I was visiting with my sister. My mom and I flew out to NYC to help her re-decorate her apartment, and then we went to see a musical "A Light in The Piazza." Exploring the city was so much fun, and I just love Angela's Brooklyn neighborhood.

When I returned home, I immediately started to get ready to move into my new house! I am all settled now, and am getting back into the swing of my life and my business.

But the fun really started as I had the opportunity to visit several County Conventions in my Utah Senate District. Let's just say right here and now that Utah's citizens are wonderful. I enjoyed meeting everyone at the conventions, I loved learning what is important to you, and I can't wait to do it again very soon. There are 6 counties in my senate district: Iron, Beaver, Millard, Garfield, Kane, and 1/2 of Washington County. Lots of ground to cover, but I have the energy and the drive to get it done.

I particularly enjoyed listening to Mr. Pete Ashdown speak at each convention. Man, we have to get this guy elected. Not only does he have something to say, but I am PROUD to be on the same ticket as this man. One quote of Pete's that I am particularly fond of:

"All in all, I find myself more closely aligned with Democrats, but wish we didn't have a party system at all. I believe it prevents representatives from acting and thinking for their constituents' best interests. Nevertheless, its what we've got and I don't envision change from the two party system in my lifetime." - Pete Ashdown, Candidate for US Senate

Me and Pete - Millard County Convention

Today I am getting ready for the State convention on May 12 & 13 - I have been on the committee to organize the Jefferson Jackson Dinner - and again, more fun than a person should have. I have met some *wonderful* people, but have a new found appreciation for what goes into these major events.

I am working on getting signs and banners printed so that I will have them for convention. Of course this takes cash, and I have a lot of it to raise. I did recruit a good fundraiser, so I think we're ready to get moving. In the meantime, contact me if you would like to donate to this good cause.

Ok, let's start blogging!

2006-05-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog as a candidate for the Utah Senate. This is where I'd like to invite everyone living in Utah to tell me what is important to them, and how we can change the world!

What are the issues that concern you the most?If you could change anything what would it be and how would you do it? If I gave you the power to improve your own world, what would you do with it? If I gave you a magic wand and said "make your change!" where would you wave it?

In my real life, I have the best job in America. People come to me to help them look good. I am a web site designer and marketing specialist, which means I take people’s ideas and then turn around and make them look really great. I plan to take the same approach as a State Senator. Come to me, tell me your ideas. And then I will work hard to make your ideas heard, and to make your dreams for Utah Come true.

Blog away, folks!