For the past six years, before each November election, my neighbors and I have gathered in a home or backyard, shared some good food, and discussed candidates and the issues on our ballots. It’s always been productive and helpful, and we’ve left more informed while also maintaining positive ...
Despite living in Provo for the past 8 years, local elections have felt like such a mystery to me. So I decided to jump into the City Council race for a first-hand perspective. Here’s what I learned: 1. These candidates work extremely hard. They knock doors and host events for months leading ...
When I was seven years old growing up in Orem, I remember driving past Utah Valley University and thinking: college isn’t for kids like me. My dad worked in construction, my mom cleaned houses, and no one in my family had gone to college. A university degree felt like a distant dream that ...
It’s hard to believe David G. Wright is talking about the same Jeff Whitlock I know in his recent opinion piece, “The Power of Listening.” Although I had never met Jeff Whitlock until I attended the same forum Wright references, I was immediately impressed by his business savvy, ...
Several months ago, I attended an Orem City Council meeting where the issue of rezoning the beloved Wilkerson Farm from open space to residential housing was heard. The City Council chambers were filled to capacity with Orem residents who were against the proposed rezoning. Many of them spoke ...
At a recent forum for Provo’s District 2 City Council candidates, Councilman George Handley revealed a troubling philosophy. He praised politicians who have the “courage” to ignore the voices of their neighbors and instead rely on their own “convictions” when casting votes. That’s ...
