Jeff graduated from Payson High School and received a B.S. in Sociology from the University of New York. Later he received Masters degrees from the United States Army War College in Strategic Studies and the University of Phoenix in Education. He served his church and then his country. He served in the U.S. Army and National Guard for 37 years and retired in 2019 serving the last 7 years as the Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard. In this capacity I had the honor of serving in the Governor’s Cabinet helping work through the issues all Utahns face as well as providing crisis management when needed.
Jeff’s parents were part of the Greatest Generation and instilled in me a strong commitment to public service and Constitutional principles. I obtained a pocket Constitution when I was 16 years old and carried it in my book bag all through college. That first copy has long since fallen apart, but I have continued to carry a copy throughout my adult life and worked hard to abide by its principles.
Retirement for Jeff does not mean an end to public service. He doesn’t just sit still very well! And service is just a part of who he is. Although Jeff was being encourage to run for other positions, he chose to run for the Utah House because it is a place where he can stay more directly connected with the people he represents. He has worked hard to get to know people and will continue to work hard to get to know people and the issues that are important to them because the concept of Representative Government is a core principle to Jeff.
His experience as Commanding General of the Utah National Guard gave him a great deal of experience in the legislative process, budgets and appropriations. He knows the process and people in both the legislative and executive branches, and he knows how to get things done. He will be able to hit the ground running and make a real impact for the citizens in Spanish Fork, Salem, and Woodland Hills.
The moto that has guided Jeff throughout his life is Integrity and Accountability. As he enters this race and makes commitments to the people he would serve, he felt it was very important to add one critical word to that motto: Accessibility. His view of his assignment if he is elected is to a true Representative of the people, not just the people in general, but individuals and families, each one with their own priorities, concerns and viewpoints. To do that job well, Jeff is to being proactive in reaching out and listening to citizens.
Jeff’s first priority is government accountability and ensuring access to taxpayers. He believes the best policies are driven by facts and good data, but not devoid of human realities. From the beginning, his promise has been to never forget that each tax dollar comes from an individual taxpayer, with house payments, car repairs, doctor bills, and many other demands on their budget and never forget that each vote he casts affects individual citizens and families.
Jeff’s Priorities:
- Government Accountability – Focus the individual taxpayer and how the decisions made at the state level affect individuals and families.
- Accessibility – Work to engage citizens and be as accessible through townhalls, social media, email, by phone, and any other available option
- The Education of Our Children – Focus on improving our educational programs to deliver relevant education that prepares our children to face the ever evolving and competitive economy.
