As the daughter of a local politician, I always begin campaigns full of hope in the goodness of people and politics, but that hope slowly deteriorates by election day. My mom, Marsha Judkins, served as a Provo School Board member, then as a State Legislator for three terms. Now, she is running ...
Last April — in a move that should alarm anyone who believes education is more than a pipeline to a paycheck — Weber State University followed the dictates of the Utah State legislature and HB 265 and SB 334 cutting 89 courses. In anticipation of those cuts and earlier that month, Professor ...
We talk a lot in the Provo City organization about “One Provo.” It’s a phrase I’ve emphasized often because it reminds us to think outside our silos and work together across department lines. Allow me to introduce you to a Provo City employee who embodies that concept: Tara ...
I used to wonder why the followers of one group of Orem politicians wrote such negative and untrue things in their letters to the editor. I get it now; it’s called negative campaigning. This political strategy focuses more energy on discrediting political opponents than on proposing positive ...
When I was a missionary, I compiled my favorite General Conference talks into a binder so I could frequently refer to them for inspiration and comfort. Very quickly, Russell M. Nelson, then an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, became one of my favorite speakers because ...
For the past several years, a political PAC called Stronger Together has been working quietly—and aggressively—to gain control of the Orem City government and schools. They claim to stand for “unity” and “civility,” but their actions tell a different story. Behind the scenes, ...
In my last column I described a “Swimming with the Sharks” adventure I enjoyed with my husband and daughter in Hawaii. As I was writing, I found myself thinking about my mother. She’s gone now, but I couldn’t help imagining what might have happened had she come with us. You have to ...
We are a nation drawn and quartered by difference of opinion and indifference toward each other, shaken by faith-testing tribulation. Sometimes I catch myself wondering if we truly are a Christian people. That question aches in my bones. And so, as we scramble to rebuild a sense of peace within ...
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 ...
