#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Jennifer Fresques

Office Sought: Salt Lake County Assessor

Issue: Most people don't know what the Assessor does or who the current Assessor is. One of my goals would be to change that, to make the office more accessible to the public. The Assessor's office has struggled to retain and attract experts in our field. This makes valuation more difficult. It also makes it more difficult for us to hold the valuations on higher valued properties which could result in undue burden on all others. Unfortunately, because people don't understand the role of the Assessor, they often don't really care who runs the office. This makes running for this office difficult. The Assessor plays an integral role in running the office as well as with the public. Within our office there is a desperate need for positive changes. The public needs to understand that without the right leadership, they will be affected. Customer service may suffer and the values may suffer. It's important to get the values correctly assessed in order to spread the tax burden equitably and without undue burden to our working class families.

Bio: My name is Jennifer Fresques. My husband Rich and I have two incredible sons, a dog and a cat. We love spending time together as a family whether it’s watching a movie, playing board games or cards or having snowball fights. I love reading. I love laughing with my husband and kids. I am also passionate about surrogacy and our family was fortunate enough to be able to help three families grow when I was a surrogate for them. I have a Bachelor Degree in Accounting and I am a Certified General Appraiser. I have worked in the Salt Lake County Assessor’s office for 12 years. While in the Assessor’s office I have worked in various positions in the Commercial Department. I have been in leadership roles for several years now. I feel passionately about the work we do and about the people that I lead. My background in the county and in the Assessor’s office as well as my Certified General licensing makes me an excellent candidate for Salt Lake County Assessor. I have spent years observing the challenges in our office and speaking with my fellow employees about the issues they have in our office. I have striven to become a leader with an open door, ready to listen and always willing to advocate for our employees. I strongly believe the Assessor’s office needs fresh perspectives in management in order to make positive changes within the organization. The better our organization and the more effective and efficient our employees can become, the better our customer service and valuation can become. The closer the assessor’s office can get to the true fair market values of all properties, the better the tax burden can be fairly spread. My oath as a leader: I will lead with integrity and honesty. I will be the “fix it” leader who not only fixes things, but empowers others to fix things as well. I will set clear expectations and make certain that those expectations are clearly communicated to those I lead. I will provide the knowledge, tools and guidance to help build up those around me. I will strive for positive communication, transparency, consistency and competency.

Website: jenniferfresques.com

Facebook: @jennifer4assessor

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jennifer-fresques

Instagram: @jennifer4assessor

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Brian Moench

Issue: Right now it's the pandemic and whether to open schools. Normally it's air pollution and the climate crisis. I've been involved in trying to raise awareness of the health consequences of air pollution/dirty energy, and shape public policy to improve Wasatch Front air quality. We're not doing anywhere enough to reduce pollution, and much more must be done. The proposed inland port will be the biggest new source of pollution in 50 years.

Bio: Medical Background:

- Graduate of U. of Utah Medical School

- Internship in Internal Medicine at LDS Hospital

- Residency in Anesthesiology at Mass. General Hospital

- Fellowship in Intensive Care Medicine Mass. General Hospital

- Former instructor in anesthesia, Harvard Medical School

- Former Chairman, Anesthesia Dept., Holy Cross Hospital

- Private practice in anesthesiology since 1981.

Environmental expertise:

- Former adjunct faculty member, U. of Utah Honors College, teaching public health and the environment.

- President and founder, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, (UPHE). Since 2007 UPHE has become the largest civic organization of medical professionals in the Western US. We have been actively engaged in many environmental battles throughout the country and Western Canada. UPHE has worked closely with numerous national environmental groups like the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and WildEarth Guardians.

- Board Chairman, Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution

- Nominated by Pres. Obama as a finalist for the Award, Champions of Change, for my work on public health and the climate crisis, 2013.

Writing and lecture experience:

- I have had about 110 Op Eds published in newspapers throughout the country on numerous issues related to the environment and public health.

- I have been the principal author of extensive and heavily referenced comments submitted to federal and state agencies on various types of environmental rule making, and courts briefs written for environmental lawsuits on behalf of UPHE.

- I am the author of the health chapter in a soon to be published book, Air Pollution in Utah: Issues and Solutions. The book is under contract with the University of Utah press.

- Author of the non-fiction book, Death by Corporation, an expose' of the dark, and all too often lethal business practices of major international corporations.

- I have appeared on national television, MSNBC, Fox Business Chanel, to discuss the relationship between neonatal death and pollution from fracking.

- I have been quoted in numerous national newspapers, appear regularly on local television and radio programs discussing the health consequences of air pollution and am well recognized by the Utah public as an expert on air pollution and health. I give dozens of lectures a year on numerous issues related to environmental contamination.

- I have testified as an expert witness in environmental lawsuits, and am currently an expert witness on the effect of environmental contaminants on brain function for defendant in a murder trial.

- On a lighter note, I was the first political opponent of the now infamous political guru for George W. Bush, Karl Rove, at Olympus High School, SLC, 1968.

- I was the creator and founder of a humorous greeting card company, In Your Face Cards, which sold 35 million cards over 11 years. As a physician, humorous cartoonist, and creator of In Your Face Cards, CNN did a personal profile on me in the late 1990s.

- I am an ongoing thorn in the side of Utah state government, industrial polluters, oil and gas drillers, and wood burners.

Website: UPHE.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.moench.1

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Samuel Winkler

Office Sought: House District 42

Issue: Managing growth and what comes with it. The air has become more polluted and our roads are clogged with traffic. Our schools are overfull and I have a concern for the amount of water we actually have left. We need to manage growth to ensure that we will have water for future generations, that developments include transit, education, and commercial elements.

Bio: Sam Winkler was born and raised in Utah, married with three children ages 2, 6 and 13. Sam graduated Magna Cum Laude from Weber State University with a bachelors in Criminal Justice and enjoys spending time with his family camping, fishing, and just hanging around. Sam is a police sergeant for a local police department and has worked serving our community for over 20 years. Sam currently supervises the School Resource Officers, Traffic Unit, Community Outreach and fills in as a Public Information Officer. Sam's career has allowed him to see first-hand many of the issues we all face in our communities today - whether it's needing to invest more in education, to our deteriorating air quality, or growing pains and infrastructure. Even today, Sam has great ideas to work with the community on criminal justice and law enforcement reform. Sam will listen to all of the evidence and weigh all of the facts to make the best decisions for the people of our district and the State of Utah.

Website: www.vote4samwinkler.com

Twitter: @SamuelUtah

Facebook: @SamWinkler4UTHouse42

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-winkler-b0924716/

Instagram: @SamWinkler4UTHouse42

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Suzanne harrison

Office Held: State rep

Office Sought: State rep

Issue: Feeling heard and prioritized.

Bio: I grew up in Provo where my parents both spent their careers working at BYU. I went to Timpview High School and then attended Stanford University where I met my husband, John, who was raised in Centerville, Utah. After Stanford I graduated from medical school at the University of Utah, and completed my residency in anesthesiology at Harvard University. We’ve lived in District 32 for over a decade. Our children attend local public schools. John works as a Senior Director of Engineering at Lucid Software. I am a board-certified anesthesiologist at Riverton Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center. I also volunteer at our children’s schools and sports leagues and in our church.

Website: Votesuz.com

Twitter: @votesuz

Facebook: @votesuz

Instagram: @votesuz

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Tim Chambless

Office Sought: 2018 Utah State Senate District 2

Issue: Climate Change impacting the nation's demographics. I have observed erratic weather and temperature changes for half a century. The time to act is now.

Bio: University Professor. Taught over 30,000 in 35 years. Utah resident 49 years. Involved in over 30 political campaigns. Worked for a Utah Governor, U.S. Senator and Utah Congressman, and Salt Lake City Mayor. Married and father.

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Doug Owens

Office Sought: Legislature, House District 36

Issue: Conservation. Started non-profit to help find common ground with people on the other end of the political spectrum. We can win friends to conservation by highlighting the importance of outdoor recreation for the economy.

Bio: Doug Owens was born and raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah and Yale Law School. He and his wife Cynthia Smart Owens have four children and are proud to call Millcreek their home. As an attorney, Doug has three decades' experience resolving complex commercial, environmental, and employment issues. Twenty-five years ago, Doug took two years off from his career to stay home with three little boys while Cynthia finished medical residency. Cynthia currently practices medicine at St. Mark’s Hospital. Doug is committed to improving education, keeping Utah’s economy strong, protecting our air, and preserving the places that make Utah special. Doug is the founder of Utah Outdoor Partners, a non-profit organization launched to raise awareness of the value of Utah's outdoors and promote the creation of parks, trails and other recreation infrastructure to keep pace with population growth.

Website: dougowensutah.com

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Olivia Jaramillo

Office Sought: Utah State Representative, House District 14

Issue: The impact of population growth and the economic and social changes its bringing and impacting the middle class. This is bringing to surface many issues that are difficult to deal with such as poverty and everything associated with it like bankruptcy. We need to address our economy, and make it more friendly to our middle class.

Bio: Olivia Jaramillo is the Democratic candidate for the Utah House of Representatives, House District 14. Olivia was born and raised in Mexico, and immigrated to the United States when she was 14. She joined the United States Air Force in 1999. She has served tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 7 years in Europe, and humanitarian missions into Sub-Saharan Africa (Mozambique, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa). She has written Military Legislation at local and regional Military levels. She retired from Active Duty Military Service after 20 years in March 2019. She currently Chairs the North Davis Communities that Care Coalition, has created a Veterans Benefits Fair in Davis County, in conjunction with Davis County Commissioners, founded and leads the Davis County Multicultural Committee; and is currently working with Davis County Sheriffs and all 15 City Mayors and City Councils on reforming their first responder training to include Implicit bias/race relations sensitivity education.. She was recently nominated to be the State’s PTA Diversity & Inclusion Board Specialist. She is committed and advocates for the preservation of Constitutional American Rights, the middle class, a proper State tax reform, public education, the environment, and minority communities such as Veterans of war, and the correction of public perception towards legal immigrants. Olivia lives in Syracuse, Utah with her 9 year old son Oliver.

Website: www.oliviaforutah.com

Twitter: @oliviaforutah

Facebook: facebook.com/oliviaforutah

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/olivia-jaramillo

Instagram: @oliviaforutah

Photo credit: Hassison Spendlove

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Chase Hansen

Issue: How to overcome despair and human suffering. I see it around me. Complex challenges can we solves through listening and empowering others.

Bio: When he was four years old Chase Hansen founded KID LABS, "a social impact corporation with a mission to be a global FORCE FOR GOOD." Of course, he had a little bit of help from his mentor and sidekick, a.k.a. his dad, John Hansen. The idea developed in 2013, when Salt Lake City - based father and son visited FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention and decided they too could be superheroes - now they focus on empowerment projects to create meaningful change in the world. Together they champion for others and take on unique social challenges through; innovative business development strategies, awesome collaborative marketing ventures, and creative social experiments.

Website: http://bit.ly/Project_Empathy

Twitter: @chiefkidofficer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/chiefkidofficer

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-hansen-72471111/

Instagram: @chiefkidofficer

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Kevin Perez

Office Held: Vice Chair Utah County Dems

Issue: Electing Democrats. The job as part of the EC is to elect democrats

Bio: Kevin Perez is a 26 year old native from San Diego, CA who moved to Orem, UT at a young age. The son of Mexican immigrants, raised by a single mother. He has worked hard to make it through school and help raise his younger brother. Due to the hardships he’s faced his main concerns are that of every other american. Rising costs of education, Worsening pollution, Shrinking Health Care Coverage, and the 11.5 Million undocumented immigrants who live in the shadows. These are the issues that Kevin is the most passionate about, issues that should have been resolved years ago.

Website: https://utcountydems.com

Twitter: @utcountydems

Facebook: https://facebook.com/utcountydems

Instagram: @utcountydems

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Emily Hase

Office Held: Chair, Salt Lake County Democratic Party

Issue: Voter education. Ensuring voters are educated on how to cast ballots, and the importance of voting in down-ballot races is important for electing Democrats in all offices.

Bio: Emily Hase serves as the Chair of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party by night, and as a business analyst for a Fortune 100 company by day. She got her start in Utah politics in 2013 when she managed the re-election campaign for the great JoAnn Seghini, and has been working to elect local leaders ever since. She has worked on campaigns from city council to Governor, and serves on committees for the Salt Lake County and Utah Democratic Parties, local issue and identity caucuses, and the Young Democrats of America.

Website: https://www.slcountydems.com/

Twitter: @emily_j_hase

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Emily.Hase.UT/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyhase/

Instagram: @emily.j.d.hase

#plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol