Hello there John ,

Travis here, Elections Manager for Stewardship Utah, and I want to remind you that today is the start of early voting in Utah! If you want to skip the lines and vote in person, head to your nearest polling location from now until Nov 1. And while we're on the topic of elections, I also want to introduce you to another one of our incredible endorsed candidates, Jessica Wignall.  

Jessica grew up in Kearns and graduated from Weber State University. Her career has focused on healthcare and banking, and in her free time has volunteered as a court-appointed special advocate for children. She’s running to promote economic freedom, expand access to affordable housing and healthcare, and protect our public lands. She is running as an unaffiliated candidate to bring practical, community-focused change beyond party lines. 

Protecting Utah’s natural beauty and promoting sustainable practices is one of Jessica's top priorities. She pledges to champion policies that reduce pollution, conserve water, and protect our public lands. She believes in finding practical solutions that promote sustainability and benefit our communities. We reached out to learn more about her vision for a greener, healthier Utah for all Utahns.

Some people know this, but it’s still a fun thing to talk about with anyone. I have three half brothers I found out about in my mid-30s. I grew up with one brother during my life, so finding out there were three more was wonderful. It has been fun to hear about their lives, get to know their families, and have the opportunity to be in each other’s lives.

Fatigue and frustration. Fatigue of feeling like the community wasn’t being supported by their representatives. Frustration in the same empty promises. I realize change takes time; however, when you’re not seeing progress, you wonder if conversations are being had. If they are, are they focused on our communities?

I chose to run as an unaffiliated candidate because I don’t identify with either party and want to make decisions based on merit, not party.

We have seen government overreach at the federal level and it is finding its way to our local communities (i.e., book banning). Decisions are being made for us based on unfounded claims instead of allowing autonomy to happen in homes.

Environmental health is crucial to our community because it directly impacts our quality of life, public health, and the preservation of the natural resources on which we all depend. Clean air and water are fundamental to our well-being. In Utah, where air quality issues are a growing concern, we must address its impacts on respiratory health, especially for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. Our economy also relies heavily on the beauty of our environment, with tourism and outdoor recreation playing key roles in supporting local businesses. Protecting these natural resources is not only about preserving our landscapes but also about safeguarding our future.

I plan to address these issues by advocating for clean air initiatives, supporting policies that reduce emissions, and promoting the adoption of clean energy alternatives. Water conservation will also be a priority, as smarter water management and conservation efforts are critical to ensuring our long-term sustainability, especially in the face of ongoing droughts. Lastly, I will work to protect our public lands from harmful development, ensuring they remain in place for future generations.

My biggest challenge was coming into this with no idea of what I was doing or what to expect. There are a lot of moving parts in a campaign. Additionally, there was a third candidate in this race who withdrew at the last minute. What had been a somewhat lowkey campaign suddenly became a whirlwind. Thankfully, I have amazing and knowledgeable people in my corner to provide guidance, support, hard work, and the love of our community.

In addition to my environmental priorities, I want to bring big wins for the district like quality education and support, resources for teachers and students, and getting the cost of living under control by establishing statutes for corporation-owned properties. 

Stewardship Utah is proud to endorse Jessica Wignall in this year’s election, and we look forward to working with her to achieve our goals for a healthy and green community for all Utahns! 

Onwards,

Travis Suite,

Elections Manager

[email protected]

www.stewardshiputah.org

P.S. It's phone banking time! As we rally voters across Utah to head to the polls, we need your help. We're hosting several phone banking opportunities in the coming weeks, join us for one, or all of them!