Happy Friday from #OneUtah, a weekly update from the office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Here’s your recap of what we did this week, what's on the horizon, and more.

A new Supreme Court justice

This week we named Utah Court of Appeals Judge Jill M. Pohlman as our choice to serve as a Utah Supreme Court Justice. 

A graduate of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, Judge Pohlman clerked for U.S. District Chief Judge David K. Winder and was a partner at Stoel Rives before being appointed to the Utah Court of Appeals in 2016. She has a brilliant legal mind and her commitment to the rule of law will reinforce public trust in this vital institution.

This nomination is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate. If Pohlman is confirmed, the five-member Utah Supreme Court will be majority women for the first time in state history.

Learn more about Judge Pohlman here.

A successful primary election

We want to thank all Utahns who voted in primary elections this week. Your votes make a difference!

In Utah, county clerks administer elections and Lt. Gov. Henderson exercises general supervisory authority over elections and more. Fun fact: “Two states – Alaska and Utah – have an elected lieutenant governor as the chief election official,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Utahns can cast their next ballot in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 8. For now, counties will continue counting ballots. At 5 p.m. each night for the next two weeks, check here for the latest numbers.

Working together to conserve

According to the latest information released by the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions continue to plague the state, with 92.83% of the state experiencing “extreme” or “exceptional” drought conditions. 

Utah's water supply is not unlimited. We all need to be part of water solutions.

Thank you to businesses like Merit Medical, Intermountain Healthcare, Ivory Homes, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and so many others that are leading by example and making water-saving changes that are good for business and for the future of our state.

Take the H2Oath, Utah’s Water-Wise Pledge, here.

DHHS celebration and Martha Hughes Cannon birthday

Today, the Utah Department of Health and the Utah Department of Human Services becomes one unified agency. This consolidated department will reduce challenges and improve outcomes for all Utahns, particularly those within communities where disparities are greatest.

This morning at the Capitol, Lt. Gov. Henderson joined DHHS and nonprofit Better Days 2020 to celebrate the 165th birthday of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon. Dr. Cannon – a suffragist, physician, and state senator – planted the seeds for modern-day public health policy in Utah when she successfully passed a bill to form the State Board of Health. 

Tracy Gruber – the second woman to lead Utah’s public health agency and the first executive director of DHHS – is leading the agency on its missions to advocate for, support, and serve all individuals and communities in Utah. You can learn more here.

It’s all part of Dr. Cannon’s historic legacy, which among other things included implementing better sanitation practices for the citizens of Salt Lake City. Happy birthday, Dr. Cannon, and congratulations, DHHS!

400 years of love, wisdom, and service 

We were recently lucky enough to meet with Utah couples who had been married for 50 or more years. Together, they have experienced more than 400 years of love, wisdom, and sacrifice. We’re grateful for their advice and for their company. 

Meeting with Utahns from all walks of life is important to this administration. One of our new favorite traditions involves us meeting with a unique group of people for dinner at the Governor’s Mansion.

The Utah Patriot Partnership network

Through sacrifice and commitment, our veterans and military families honor our heritage and ensure our freedom. As one of the strongest economies in the nation with one of the lowest unemployment rates and one of the highest job growth rates, we want to make sure our veterans are also benefiting.

That’s where the Utah Patriot Partnership network comes in: The network provides education and networking opportunities to help employers recruit, hire, and retain veterans, military members, and spouses. It’s a free program with multiple resources for your organization to leverage as a member such as:

-- A dedicated team available for guidance.

-- Access to lists of veterans, military members and spouses matched to job postings at jobs.utah.gov.

-- A certificate and marketing materials packaged for your use.

-- Training and networking opportunities and events to optimize veteran, military member and spouse employment.

Join the Utah Patriot Partnership network and commit to hiring qualified veterans. It’s a smart choice. Click here to learn even more about Utah veterans in the workforce. 

Watching the ‘Warriors Over the Wasatch’

This past week was one of our favorite summer events! Each year, Hill Air Force Base, with the support of the community, hosts the “Warriors Over The Wasatch Air & Space Show.” It features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron and more than a dozen additional world-class acts, including an F-35A Lightning II demonstration by the 388th Fighter Wing, a jet powered truck, and a pyrotechnics display, just to name a few.

We’re so proud of the work HAFB does, and we were happy to attend.

‘This Will Not Pass’

We joined author and journalist Jonathan Martin in a lively conversation about the 2020 election, Biden’s first year in office plus the recent Jan. 6 hearings, and the future of American democracy.

Thanks to everyone who attended! Be sure to check out Martin’s new book, “This Will Not Pass.”

Providing disability accessibility training and mentorship

Congratulations to the Utah Division of Arts and Museums! Their Breaking Barriers project was honored by Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall with a 2022 Mayor’s Artists Award.

“Breaking Barriers: A Cultural Accessibility Project” is a partnership between the agency and Art Access to provide disability accessibility training and mentorship to our state’s cultural institutions. This free training is for staff of arts, museum, and community organizations to develop plans to become more accessible to the disability community. Since its inception, the program has trained 58 organizations and more than 200 individuals. 

We are so proud of the staff who lead out on this project, Jason Bowcutt, and the staff of Art Access!

Supporting local: Current

This week we were able to stop by Current and enjoy some incredible seafood cuisine from Chef Ben Steigers. We highly recommend the shrimp tacos! 

We’re always happy to support one of Utah’s many local restaurants. Let us know what your favorite is here!

ICYMI

-- This week we attended the 12th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, and we are grateful to the Department of Emergency Management, Be Ready Utah, and everyone else working so diligently to keep our state prepared and safe. Find emergency preparedness information at beready.utah.gov.

-- Libraries serve as centers of community engagement, but a library can’t operate without its books, and book supply and libraries themselves can be difficult to access in some rural areas of our state. The Utah Department of Multicultural Affairs and Rozanna Benally-Sagg have partnered with the Utah State Library Division to deliver books to youth who would benefit. Learn more about this program here.

-- COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children 6 months and older! We know parents have questions and want as much info as possible, and we are here to help provide answers and resources. Learn more here.

-- June 27 was PTSD Awareness Day. If you or someone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to find resources at veterans.utah.gov/healthcare.

Coming up

July 4: Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

July 7: Lt. Gov. Henderson will meet with the Consul General of South Korea at the Capitol.

July 8: Lt. Gov. Henderson will visit the Washington County Clerk's Office to watch an election audit.

July 12: All Utah educators are invited to attend Show Up Utah’s free conference focused on professional and personal wellness. Learn more here.

July 13 to July 15: We’ll be at the National Governors Association summer meeting in Portland, Maine! We look forward to working with our fellow governors to find common ground and solutions.

July 18: Team Utah will be in Wasatch County meeting with locals, business owners, and more.

July 24: It’s time for the Days of ‘47! This celebration of Utah’s western and pioneer heritage is one of our state's longest-standing traditions, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.

July 26 to July 28: We’ll be at the Western Governors Association summer meeting in Idaho! We look forward to discussing solutions to drought, wildfires, and more.

Get involved!

Looking for a new job opportunity? From great employee benefits to versatile work schedules, the career opportunities with the state are truly endless. Join Team Utah today! 

Those looking to volunteer can also consider more than 300 boards and commissions. Find out which openings are available and how you can get involved here!

Get in touch!

You can reach the Governor's Office here. And you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for the latest news and updates

Contact the Governor's Office