A Neighbor Who Understands Our Community

For more than 70 years, my family has called this community home. I grew up here, attended our schools, raised my family here, and have watched our neighborhoods grow and change.

I know the people, the places, and the challenges that matter most because this isn't just where I live — it's the community that helped shape who I am.

I’m running for House District 23 to bring practical, common-sense leadership that puts families first and works to protect the quality of life that makes our community such a great place to call home.

My Priorities

Making Life More Affordable
Families are working hard, and they deserve a government that understands the pressures they face. I will work to keep costs manageable, support responsible spending, and create opportunities for families and businesses to thrive. 

Keeping Our Neighborhoods Clean and Safe
A strong community starts with safe streets and neighborhoods we are proud to call home. I will support efforts that protect public safety, maintain our communities, and preserve the places where families live and gather.

Supporting Our Schools and Families
Our schools are at the heart of our community. Having grown up here and watched generations of families build their lives here, I understand the importance of supporting students, parents, and educators.

Listening to the People I Represent
Good leadership begins with listening. I will be accessible, responsive, and focused on the concerns of the people who call this district home. 

Why I'm Running

This community gave my family so much — friendships, opportunities, and a place to build a life. Now it's my turn to give back.

I’m at a point in my life where I can make a commitment to serving our great state of Utah. I’m a hard worker who believes in common sense, setting goals, and following through to make a difference. I want to be a representative who knows where our community has been, understands the challenges we face today, and is committed to building a strong future for the generations who will come after us.

I’m not running for fame or personal gain. I see public service as an opportunity to give back to the community that raised me and to work toward making life better for the people I represent. As another way of giving back, I plan to donate all legislative compensation received to charitable organizations within the State of Utah.

Serving the community that raised me isn't just a campaign slogan — it's a commitment to give back.

More About Me

I was born in the old St. Mark’s Hospital and grew up in Sugar House, where my family has lived at the same address since 1956. I attended J.E. Cosgriff and Judge Memorial before graduating from Highland High School in 1972, where football and wrestling were a big part of my life.

After high school, I joined the U.S. Navy with my two best friends through the “Buddy Plan.” I later married my high school sweetheart, Dinah, and we have now celebrated 53 years of marriage. We both graduated from the University of Utah, and our family has deep roots in the schools and neighborhoods of this community.

I went on to attend the U of U School of Medicine and completed my Emergency Medicine training at the University of Southern California. My medical career took me to California, where I helped establish the Emergency Medicine program at UC Davis Medical Center and later served for many years as an Emergency Department director before spending my final 12 years with Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento.

After retiring in 2021, Dinah and I returned home to the same Sugar House homesite where our family has lived for generations. Being back with our family, friends, and community has reminded me just how much this place means to us.

I would be honored to bring that lifetime of local roots, experience, and service to representing Utah House District 23.

Experience & Life Lessons

My 43 years of military service taught me the importance of leadership, responsibility, teamwork, and putting others before yourself. I served in both the Navy and Army, including active duty, the Utah and California National Guards, and the Army Reserve. My service took me around the world, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Kuwait, and Germany. I also had the honor of commanding the 328th Combat Support Hospital at Fort Douglas, leading more than 1,000 soldiers across three states.

My experience as a physician and military leader taught me how to make difficult decisions, solve problems, and remain focused when circumstances are challenging.

Perhaps my greatest life lessons, however, have come from my family. Raising five children, including a daughter with Down syndrome, caring for my aging mother, and facing my own challenges with cancer have given me a deeper understanding of compassion, resilience, and the importance of looking out for others.

These experiences have shaped the person I am today and the kind of public servant I hope to be: someone who listens, leads with common sense, and puts service ahead of self.