#plugintodevin - Your Mark on the World with Devin Thorpe

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Chris Peterson

Office Sought: Utah Governor

Bio: Chris' government and policy experience include:

· Working as a Special Advisor in the U.S. Department of Defense where he helped lead the Pentagon’s efforts to protect military servicemembers from predatory lending. The Secretary of Defense awarded Peterson the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence for his efforts on behalf of military families;

· Serving in the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau where Peterson’s team stopped deceptive and abusive practices by Wall Street banks, payday lenders, and debt collection agencies. His team won $12 billion in refunds and restitution for Americans who were victimized by illegal financial practices; and,

· Leading at the University of Utah where he worked as an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with managerial responsibility for the educational mission of the University’s College of Law.

Peterson is a national leader and authority on consumer protection. He has published several books including a university textbook on consumer law and an award winning book on predatory lending. The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, an association of state and local consumer law enforcement agencies, gave Peterson its national consumer advocate of the year award for his public service. Chris lives in Salt Lake City with his amazing wife and three wonderful kids. He's a fifth generation Utahn with deep pioneer roots. Chris was born and raised in West Valley City and attended Utah’s public schools. A father of three, Chris is married to Tera Peterson who is also a practicing attorney. Tera is an Assistant Solicitor General in the Utah Attorney General Office’s Criminal Appeals Division where she works to protect crime victims including especially abused children. The Petersons enjoy skiing in Utah's mountains and hiking our state's majestic deserts.

Website: https://petersonforutah.com/

Twitter: @PetersonUtah

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetersonforUtah/

Guest: Karina Brown

Office Held: City of Nibley Planning Commissioner

Office Sought: Lt. Governor

Issue: Democrat elections

Bio: Karina is President of the Cache County Friends of the Children's Justice Center Board and was a founding sponsor of the Medicaid Expansion ballot initiative (Proposition 3) adopted by Utah voters in 2018. She also serves on the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of the Cache Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee. She is a Planning Commissioner for the city of Nibley, Utah. And she is the co-founder of the Cache Valley United for Change organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement. Karina also currently serves as Co-Chair of Cache Celebration of Women's Suffrage 2020, an organization working to celebrate the centennial of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The organization is dedicated to educating Utah students about voting history including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and 1870 when Seraph Young of Utah was the first woman in America to vote under an equal suffrage law. The Women’s Suffrage 2020 curriculum includes an educational exhibit available to school districts across the state. Brown has an M.S. in Human, Environmental, and Consumer Resources from Eastern Michigan University and a B.S. in Family Resources and Human Development from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Karina is married to Dr. Karl Brown, a physician and Air Force veteran and is a mother of four fabulous children in Nibley, Utah (Cache Valley). Her hobbies include fitness, spending time with family, listening to audio books, and playing violin and guitar.

Twitter: @petersonutah @karinaforutah

Facebook: facebook.com/karinaandelinbrownforutah

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-andelin-brown-230(continued)

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Alan Naumann

Office Held: Chair, Environmental Caucus, Chair, Flip 7 Committee

Office Sought: Support Utah House races

Issue: Air Quality. Health is threatened. Need to drastically reduce burning fossil fuels

Bio: Solar and EV charging contractor, Chair, Environmental Caucus, Chair, Flip & Committee

Twitter: @alanrnaumann

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.naumann.90

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-naumann-72608b45/

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Brian King

Office Held: Representative, House District 28, Utah State Legislature; Leader, House Minority Caucus

Office Sought: Re-election to that office

Issue: Public education, clean air, quality outdoor life, economic development, access to health care. They are critically important quality of life issues. I am in favor of all of them!

Bio: Brian S. King serves in the Utah state House of Representatives. He graduated from the

University of Utah College of Law in 1985 and has practiced law in Salt Lake City for

over 30 years. Most of that time he has represented individuals suing health, life, and

disability insurers and self funded employee benefit plans. This work usually involves the

Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"). He has lectured across the

country and written frequently on the topic. Mr. King was invited to testify before the

Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. regarding proposed changes to ERISA's

claims and appeals procedures and also testified before the Departments of Labor, Health

and Human Services, and Treasury about changes to the federal Mental Health Parity and

Addiction Equity Act. He has been lead counsel in hundreds of trial and appellate cases

across the country involving health, life, and disability claims. Mr. King has also been

lead counsel for plaintiffs in over a dozen class actions, mostly involving ERISA cases.

He has represented clients before the U.S. Supreme Court and in many Federal Circuit

and District courts. He is a past president of the Utah Association for Justice (formerly

the Utah Trial Lawyers Association). He also serves on the Board of Directors for the

Rape Recovery Center and on the Board for the ACLU of Utah.

In 2008 Brian was elected to the Utah State House of Representatives as the Democratic

representative for District 28 in Salt Lake City. He is a member of the House Judiciary

and Business and Labor Standing committees. He also serves on the Executive Offices

and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the Constitutional Defense Council,

and the Federalism Commission. He was elected by his Democratic House colleagues as

the Leader of the House Democratic caucus in 2014 and continues to serve in that

position.

Website: www.kingforrep.com

Twitter: @RepBrianKing

Facebook: Facebook.com/Brian.king.7528/

Instagram: @briansking

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Mandar Apte

Issue: Promoting peace, compassion, nonviolence and social justice. Violence affects everyone - me - you - everyone - irrespective of our socio-economic status, political views, or where we live. We have to come together to end systemic racism and promote compassion, nonviolence and harmonious co-existence

Bio: Mandar is a former Shell GameChanger who used to manage Shell's investment portfolio on social innovations that create shared value - both social impact and business value. After working at Shell for 17 years, Mandar became a Visiting Scholar at George Mason and started an innovation lab on the Business for Peace that provides innovation consulting to brands to find novel ways to make peace profitable. Currently, he manages a nonprofit peace consultancy 'Cities4Peace' that actively promotes peace and compassion in cities across the world. His flagship work in 2019 was in Los Angeles - working closely with the LAPD and the LA Mayors Office for Gang Reduction in Los Angeles. In 2017, Mandar produced/directed a documentary film 'From India With Love' (now on Amazon Prime). The documentary showcases the journey to India that he hosted for the parents from the Sandy Hook school, Black Lives Matter activists and a former gang member from LA to study nonviolence.

Website: www.cities4peace.org

Twitter: @mandarapte108 @cities4peace

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandarapte108/

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Susi Feltch Malohifo'ou

Office Held: Executive Director, Co-Founder

Website: https://pik2ar.org/

Facebook: facebook.com/pik2ar

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

Instagram: @pik2ar

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Daniela Larsen

Bio: National Geographic Certified Educator. Passionate about exploring the world through science and the human story. Current projects include creating online education, marketing the right causes, conservation and historical preservation. Executive Director The Hutchings Museum

Website: johnhutchingsmuseum.org

Twitter: @museumhutchings

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-larsen-natgeo/

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Elizabeth Weight

Office Held: State Representative

Office Sought: State Representative

Issue: Fair, safe, and sustaining employment. I have had the opportunities for education and employment that provided income to support a household and also health and retirement benefits. What my security has done is give me a basis for comparison and realization of the precarious nature of jobs, not to mention benefits, for so many people in my House district as well as across the state. Also, as a woman and single household wage earner, I have experienced the impact of gender bias in employment as well as the seemingly chosen ignorance of policy makers about the economic as well as household impacts that working women must navigate. A common point of view is that people choose their employment paths by acquiring education and working toward career goals. My own parents succeeded with hard work and integrity. However, somewhat from my experience, but also from my observations of my students' family situations, there are numerous traditions and presumptions that simply avoid realities of inter-generational poverty, limited access to healthcare, and, as we have been reminded recently, racial biases. I regularly hear people use the phrase "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" but I know too many situations where there are no boots. We can see from the course of economics in my lifetime that Capitalism does not create even its own best support system. When public policy assures more equity for education, healthcare, and employment, it builds fundamental elements for strong economy.

Bio: Elizabeth Weight is a sixth generation Utahn with family roots in Sanpete County. As her parents moved from ranching to other business careers, she and her three sisters attended public schools in Fairview, Brigham City, and Bountiful. She holds B.S. and M.A. degrees in English Language Arts Education and taught for thirty-two years in Davis and Granite School Districts. Along with her teaching, she served as a department chair, state and local test item-writer and curriculum designer, as a member of her school community council, and in other teacher-representative positions. While in the classroom, she was a member and leader in the American Federation of Teachers Utah, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, where she gained formal training in political action, organizing, and leadership. An AFT member still, she currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Utah Federation of Labor and a member of the union-sponsored Labor Day Picnic organizing committee. After moving to West Valley City, Elizabeth volunteered regularly with the Salt Lake County Democratic Party and worked on election campaigns, including that of former Representative Larry Wiley. She followed his suggestion that she consider running for office, and, in 2016 was the only Utah Democrat to flip a House seat.

Elizabeth is definitely interested in education issues, especially from perspectives of the teachers, students, and families affected by the policies created in government. She recognizes and defines the strong connection between learning and all that students bring to school from their families’ experiences with safe and sustaining employment, healthcare, housing and food security, and the various effects of environmental conditions. She is excited for the opportunities as a Utah Representative to develop relationships and provide perspective among her colleagues and government staff. She is also proud to serve with the amazing guides in the Capitol Tour team … which allows her to continue in a teaching role with thousands of students and visiting tourists each year.

Website: Liz4Utah.com

Twitter: @RepEWeight

Facebook: facebook.com/elizabeth.weight.1

Instagram: @repeweight

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Alex Miles

Issue: Immigration. Specifically DACA. My girlfriend is a DACA recipient. We need to act with compassion and empathy and find a solution that leads to a pathway to citizenship with all recipients.

Bio: I am Alex Miles. I was born and raised in Sandy, Utah. I graduated from Lyon College with a degree in Political Science. Since graduating I have attempted to do the most good with my time and in my profession. This has led me to being on campaigns that inculde: the Nevada State Democratic party, Josie Valdez for County Council, Cory Booker's Presidential Campaign, and Mike Bloomberg's campaign. Now I have joined Devin Thorpe for Congress.

Twitter: @alexmiles26

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.miles.75

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-miles-a7503b164/

Instagram: @alexmiles8787

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Jacob Dunford

CW: Suicide

Issue: Suicide prevention/mental health and building safe spaces for everyone. I am personally affected by this issue by: my own coming out story as a gay man, my work in the LGBTQ+ non profit space (Encircle & LOVELOUD), and all the amazing people I have been able to learn from. I feel that if one of us hurting we are all hurting. This pride month is especially important to me. This years pride feel different. Feels less like a celebration on the dance floor & more like a call to action. This pride month we are standing arms locked with our black and brown LGBTQ+ community as we continue to demand justice against racial and gender inequalities. Some people are posting on social media. some protesting. Others donating. And some are having tough conversations with those close to me. A revolution has many lanes - be kind to yourself and to others who are traveling in the same direction. Just keep your foot on the gas! Also, More importantly - I was sitting here at my desk wondering what I could do to help educate folks on the importance of voting and being more mindful of who are elected officials. Thank you for being an exceptional leader and example in the community Devin! We need more folks like you running things.

Bio: Jacob Dunford is personally interested in ensuring every LGBTQ+ individual understands their value and is able to find a sense of community. Jacob loves what he does and will work tirelessly to cultivate a more inclusive Utah for everyone. Jacob prefers the pronouns He/Him.

Website: www.EncircleTogether.org

Instagram: @jacobdunford

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Meaghan Miller

Office Sought: Utah House District 54

Bio: Meaghan Miller lives in Wasatch County with her husband Dylan and two sons. Someone's left shoe is always missing and Fiona the dog sheds constantly. She received her bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Colorado Mesa University, and her Master's from the University of Denver. She began her career as an Athletic Trainer at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center and other physical therapy clinics but ultimately found professional fulfillment in the non-profit sector. Meaghan has over a decade of experience with healthcare policy and clinical care. She is currently the Executive Director of EATS, a 501(c)(3) a food-focused nonprofit serving Summit County. Additionally, she sits on the Advisory Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and, she is involved in civil liberties advocacy - she's a fighter for you. Meaghan is a member of multiple coalitions advocating for policies to improve social equity. Areas such as patient access to healthcare, social detriments of health, education and working families especially important to her. Meaghan and her family are passionate about the Wasatch Back lifestyle. Her kids are avid outdoor enthusiasts and dirt follows them everywhere. She loves running, barre class and biking - along flat trails. Meaghan hates to cook, loves coffee any time of day, animals - except snakes and reruns of Friends.

Website: https://www.votemiller54.com/

Twitter: @votemiller54

Facebook: @votemiller54

Linkedin: *|LinkedIn Profile|*

Instagram: @votemiller54

Photo credit: IZNAT Images

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