Government Accountability & Transparency
Government That Earns the Public's Trust: During my time serving in the Utah House, accountability and transparency in government have been among the top concerns I've heard from constituents. No matter the issue before us, Utahns deserve a government that is open, accountable, and committed to following the processes that protect the public's voice.
Open and Honest Government: Transparency isn't a slogan but a responsibility. For me, that means:
Openness at every level. Decisions at the local level should be made openly and according to established law, and state government should be transparent on the issues that affect communities across Utah.
A fair and faithful process. Good government is about more than the outcomes we achieve—it's about making sure the process itself is fair, transparent, and worthy of the public's trust.
Respect for the rule of law. That includes a judiciary that faithfully interprets and applies the Utah and United States Constitutions.
My Record. Government works best when its authority stays focused on the purpose for which it was created. That's why I have an open bill file to reform Utah's Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA). MIDA was created in 2007 to strengthen Utah's military installations, particularly Hill Air Force Base, by redeveloping underused military land and supporting our military mission. Over time, however, its authority has expanded into projects far beyond that original purpose.
My legislation would refocus MIDA on its core mission while ensuring greater accountability and clear limits on its authority. When the government is granted special powers, those powers should remain tied to the purpose that justified them. That's how we maintain transparency, accountability, and the public's trust.
Stewardship and Integrity: The public's trust is earned through action. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, to respect the separation of powers, and to hold public officials to the highest standards of integrity. When we get the process right, we protect not just individual decisions, but the public's long-term confidence in their government.
Looking Ahead: When the government is accountable and transparent, the people of Utah can have confidence that their voices are heard and their interests are being served. That's the standard I hold myself to, and it's the standard I'll continue fighting for.