Happy Friday from #OneUtah, a weekly update from the office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Here’s your recap of what we did this week, what's on the horizon, and more. Reply to this email with any questions or suggestions regarding the newsletter. And thank you for subscribing!

Happy New Year, Utah! 

We hope the past few weeks have been filled with quality time with your loved ones. The holidays are always a great chance to recharge and reconnect. The new year presents new opportunities, but one thing won’t change – we’ll keep working hard for the people of this great state!

Resolving to ‘Disagree Better’

2024 is a great time for all of us to learn how to disagree better. Need some ideas for New Year’s resolutions? Click here to see some suggestions from Starts With Us. 

And check out the January issue of Deseret Magazine. It’s chock-full of thoughtful commentary and features – from Rachel Kleinfeld, Thomas Griffith, Ezra Klein, Alexandra Hudson and more – about why healthy conflict and depolarization helps our country and ourselves.

Thanks, Deseret Magazine, for highlighting this important topic!

Helping candidates

Lt. Gov. Henderson’s office has been working hard this week to help candidates file for office. Interested in running for political office yourself? Running for office is exhilarating, but the requirements can be complicated, especially if you are new to the process. 

Candidate filing is held in the Capitol Boardroom at the Utah State Capitol. The filing deadline ends Monday, Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. To learn more about candidate filing, visit vote.utah.gov and click on "2024 Election Information."

Talking Olympics

We were excited to talk about Utah’s bid for the 2034 Winter Games with Catherine Raney Norman, director of the Salt Lake City-Utah Bid for the Games, and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall on an episode of “The Last Chair” with Tom Kelly. 

With more than 80% of Utahns supporting the bid, Utah is clearly excited to welcome the world back to the Beehive State! 

Photo credit: Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office.

Having good Fire Sense

We were honored to welcome leadership from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and BonCom to the Capitol this week to recognize the effectiveness of the Fire Sense campaign. 

Fire Sense is a program designed to prevent wildfires and decrease human-caused wildfires. In 2023, there were 288 human-caused wildfires compared to 1,176 in 2020. There’s been a whopping 56% total reduction over the past two years in human-caused wildfires which is unprecedented and incredible. This past summer was Utah’s quietest wildfire season in at least two decades and we’re not done yet! We’ll continue to invest in reducing human-caused wildfires and protecting the natural beauty of Utah. Learn more about Fire Sense here.

Governor’s Award for Excellence Highlight

Each week, we’re highlighting a state employee who was recently awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence. This week we’re recognizing Gordon Larsen from the Governor’s Office! 

Gordon’s dedication and tireless efforts in spearheading the Disagree Better initiative while effectively managing a substantial federal portfolio have been remarkable. Over the past year, he has carried the heavy burden of advancing this critical project, all while skillfully balancing the demands of our federal responsibilities. In the face of immense pressure and the intricacies of planning and coordination with administrations at the national level, Gordon has consistently demonstrated an impressive ability to keep the interests of our cabinet and staff at the forefront of our delegation’s priorities. His unwavering commitment to advocating for the well-being of Utahns is truly commendable. Gordon’s dedication, perseverance, and exemplary leadership make him a worthy recipient for the Governor’s Award for Excellence.

Thank you, Gordon, for your dedication to the state of Utah. Keep up the great work! To read about the Governor’s Awards for Excellence, click here.

ICYMI

• Happy Birthday, Utah! On this day in 1896, we became the 45th state in the nation, and it’s only gotten better since then! 

• Utah was ranked #1 in social mobility in the nation! Read more here. 

• Last month we released our proposed budget for FY25. View our full recommendations at gopb.utah.gov.

Coming up

Get involved!

Looking for a new job opportunity? From great employee benefits to versatile work schedules, the career opportunities with the state are truly endless. Join Team Utah today! 

Those looking to volunteer can also consider more than 300 boards and commissions. Find out which openings are available and how you can get involved here!

Get in touch!