The night my career as a firefighter ended, my crew was trapped in a room filling with smoke. There was no way out except through a window, so we punched it out and jumped. I landed on a deck and ruptured a disk in my back.

That was the end of my time as a firefighter, but it didn’t change what public service means to me.

I didn’t go into that job for my own interests or a political agenda. When someone calls 911, they don’t ask about your politics. You show up, you do the job, you get people out. The only priority in that line of work is to keep your community safe. I carried that same approach into my two terms on the Sandy City Council, and it’s the same mindset I’ll bring to the Salt Lake County Council.

I know what it looks like when local government actually shows up for people, because I’ve spent my career doing it. But getting things done takes more than good intentions. It requires follow-through. I passed Sandy’s anti-idling ordinance in my first year on the Council — something that had stalled for years before I got there. It’s still the only ordinance of its kind that’s actually enforced in the city. And I fought to secure funding to rebuild our recreation center, a place that was a lifeline for so many Sandy families for preschool, activities and childcare. I know that personally because my daughters went to preschool there.

I also pushed for fair pay, strong benefits, and safe working conditions for the people who keep the city of Sandy running – not just once, but every time it came up.

That’s the job I want to keep doing at the county level, where it matters just as much and where right now, many people aren’t watching.

In the past year, the Salt Lake County Council has slashed funding for county child care and senior center programs. These are essential services and infrastructure that let a working parent go to their shift, that let an aging resident stay connected to their community, that catch families in the moments they need it most. I’ve seen what that infrastructure means firsthand, and I helped rebuild it in Sandy.

I’m tired of watching politicians take the easy way out when things get hard. You deserve a leader who will run towards tough problems, not away from them. That’s what I’ve spent my entire career doing, as a firefighter and EMT, as a councilmember, and now as a candidate for the County Council.

Our community is facing real challenges: rising costs, unattainable housing and politicians who aren’t listening. I want to run towards those challenges and get real results for Salt Lake County residents. I would be honored to have your vote this November.

Zach Robinson is running for Salt Lake County Council At-Large. He previously served two terms on the Sandy City Council and ran for Salt Lake County Council District 6 in 2024. Learn more about Zach’s campaign and priorities at zachforcouncil.com.

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