Utah is the best run state in the nation, and we owe that distinction to a tradition of classical conservative values of integrity, fairness, transparency, good governance and ethical leadership that historically has prevailed in Utah politics. Now our legislature is at a crossroads between those classical Utah conservative values and corrupt, unprincipled, antidemocratic extremes that threaten to sink Utah into the mire of political gamesmanship.

The Senate is a powerful voice in Utah politics and drives its direction and character. Senate District 21 is especially significant because the incumbent in my race has a particularly troubling record of anti-transparent and anti-democratic tactics. He voted to dismantle your ability to check the power of the legislature through ballot initiatives (2024 Constitutional Amendment D), and sponsored legislation that allowed the legislature to write misleading language on the ballot, which they used to try and trick you into voting for it (2024 SB 37).

Perhaps most troubling, as voters participated in a petition drive organized by Better Boundaries, my opponent wrote legislation that would void any forms received by the county clerk’s office if they arrived in an envelope that was postage-paid by Better Boundaries, in an effort to shut down the efforts of his opposition (2026 HB 242 substitute 3).

It is vital for voters to send a message that these sorts of shenanigans won’t be tolerated in Utah.

2. What unique qualities, attributes, skills and experiences do you possess that make you the best candidate in this race?

As a former Republican precinct chair, I am fluent in conservative principles, but I pursue those principles with transparency, fairness, and an open mind. My role as a Senator is NOT to protect the interests of a political party, it is to protect the interests of people and to practice correct principles.

3. Please explain your priorities if elected, as well as why you believe you are uniquely capable of achieving those priorities.

I will prioritize issues that matter most to Utahns, such as affordable housing for first-time homeowners, responsible water management to keep the Great Salt Lake healthy and ensuring that data centers are properly scoped and resourced and that elected officials are acting without conflicts of interest in their approval. I would like to restore funds that were recently cut from disability programs and work to strengthen public education. I am also a former member of the board of directors at Utah Foster Care, and will be supportive of measures that strengthen Utah’s fantastic foster system, and oversee DCFS matters.

I am passionate about government operations and would like to strengthen and restore institutions of government that promote fairness, foster independence and keep partisan influences out of administrative places where they don’t belong, especially administration of elections or authoring of language on ballots or in voter guides.

4. Please describe how you view the importance of compromise in politics and provide an example from your own experiences that highlights your perspective.

For years, the primary mission of both the Republican and Democratic parties has been to steamroll the other side, and ensure that their own tenets dominate. This is not what actual representative government looks like. Representative government asks its elected leaders to represent all of their constituents, not just those that voted for them. We should make every effort to take all perspectives and concerns into account and try to use those diverse perspectives to create laws that are better and more circumspect.

This is where the Forward Party really shines. Our slogan is “Not Left, Not Right, Forward.” If a good idea comes from the right or the left, we embrace it, and if a bad idea comes from the right or the left, we reject it.

5. How will you balance the views of the vocal public, your political party, and your own understanding and knowledge as an elected representative (a challenge highlighted by issues such as data centers, water usage, redistricting, environmental concerns, taxes, etc.)?

As a newly elected Senator, one of my first responsibilities is to listen. I am a software engineer by profession, and I have had a variety of life experiences that give me perspectives into various aspects of public policy, but I have never been a teacher in a classroom, and I have never been a farmer. To get those perspectives, it is a priority for me to listen to people from various professions and backgrounds. If I misstep it is vital for me to not double down, as so many legislators do, and instead be humble, and listen to those who might help me to identify a blind spot in my experiences.

The Box Elder County Data Center issue particularly highlighted the importance of listening and taking public sentiment into account. If county and state leadership had addressed public concerns more effectively and reached reasonable compromises, a lot of controversy could have been avoided. Other data centers have been built in Utah before with reasonable scope and responsible public engagement.

6. What is the best way for readers to contact you and/or get more information about your platform?

You can learn more about me on my website: https://wayneforsenate.com. On my website, there is a contact link where you can email me, request a phone call, request a yard sign, or donate to my campaign.