By now, you should have received your ballot in the mail (and if you didn’t you can vote early at the county government center). Many of you have already voted.
I’ve been out talking to voters almost every day for the past couple of weeks, and I know there are still plenty of folks who are deciding whether to vote, or thinking about who to vote for. I’m here to give you some help.
I applaud those of you who are still deliberating. Voting isn’t something Utahns should take lightly. We delegate significant authority to elected officials every year, but elections are the primary mode of political engagement for most of us. People are busy, and not everyone can make it up to the Capitol or to City Hall to directly voice their concerns. So the officials who we entrust to make decisions on our behalf really do matter.
From my perspective, government is about the long view. Governance is about creating a framework under which society, including people, businesses and other organizations, can move in coordination toward a better future. We might disagree over the details of that future, but if we elect sensible leaders who take their duties seriously, there’s a place for all voices to be heard.
We don’t talk enough about character in our elections. You might agree with the policy a candidate proposes, but the reality is that policies come and go while the character of our elected leaders is constant, for better or worse. I value compassion, empathy, contemplation and persistence when I vote. Candidates who cast doubt on democratic processes, who make unfounded accusations of fraud and corruption and who use fear to get votes raise big red flags to me.
Fear-based politics are what have driven us apart. Candidates who tell us that only they have the answers to our problems seldom deliver, and in fact drive a wedge between constituents and perpetuate the very critiques of inaction and gridlock that so many voters complain of. Vote for candidates who give us hope that things can be better, and that seek to unite rather than divide.
I’m running for State Senate District 13 as a Democrat, but I hope those of you reading won’t discount my appeal solely on partisan grounds. I’m writing this because of the very attributes I just described, and I’ve found that the vast majority (dare I say all?) of our Utah Democratic candidates embody these traits.
Before dismissing Democrats on your ballot, consider this. Do you value clean, healthy air and water? Are you worried about the costs of food, gas health care and housing? Do you want Utah children to have access to childcare and great schools? I don’t think anyone would consider these extreme positions, and we’re all working to make them a reality.
So before you buy into the angry, fearful and divisive rhetoric that’s being peddled to earn your vote this year, consider whether that approach is sustainable. Sure, those tactics are motivating, but they only serve to diminish trust and respect for our institutions and for each other.
Don’t give in to the dread. When we elect folks who lead with truth, fairness, and humanity, we give Utah the opportunity to thrive and to be a model for states around the nation. That’s my version of the Utah way.
Nate Blouin
Nate Blouin is a Democratic candidate for Utah Senate District 13. He has worked in the renewable energy industry and serves on a variety of boards that promote conservation and education, including the Salt Lake County Open Space Trust Fund Committee, Friends of Alta and the Salt Lake Community College Alumni Leadership Council.
