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.

One Utah Summit

This week we hosted the One Utah Summit in Cedar City! This was the 35th consecutive year of rural summits and it was great to see so many Utahns talk about leadership, innovation and the strength of rural.

We loved participating as a judge in the State Bank Business Competition and admired the entrepreneurial spirit of those who competed. Special thanks to Shawn and Carrie Bradley for sharing their wisdom, and congratulations to Larry Echo Hawk for winning this year’s Utah Rural Legacy Leader Award! We were also honored to share the stage with Noelle Pikus-Pace and Janson Pace about leading with vulnerability, being teachable, and finding greatness at home.

Thanks to all the public and private sector leaders who joined us, especially those who graduated as the first cohort of the Utah Rural Leadership Academy. We look forward to seeing what the Utah Rural Leadership Academy Year 2 Cohort learns about developing leadership and making a powerful impact on the community.   

Utah has a bright future, and we were honored to spend time with and learn from others at the Summit.

Latino Town Hall

Calling all Latinos in Utah!

On Monday, Oct. 24, we will be hosting a Latino Town Hall from 5-7 p.m. at the Salt Lake Community College Grand Theatre. Come tell us what’s on your mind, connect with state and local partners, and learn about available resources. We are excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with members of the community and we appreciate the many community partners that are supporting this event. 

Registration is required, only basic contact information is asked!Submit your questions here! We hope to see you there. 

You’ve got mail!

Utahns – start checking your mailboxes next week. On Tuesday, Oct. 18, all of Utah’s 29 county clerks will start mailing out ballots. If you’re an active registered voter, you’ll automatically receive a ballot in the mail. Not sure? Check your voter registration information right here.

We also launched a cool new feature that allows voters to track their ballot from the moment county clerks put it in the mail until it’s counted. Sign up for text or email updates for your ballot at ballottrax.utah.gov/voter/.

Your vote is your voice. We hope you’ll use your franchise to shape our great state and nation during the 2022 general election.

Governor’s Award for Excellence Highlight

Each week, we are highlighting a state employee who was recently awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence. This week we are recognizing Elizabeth Baylock with the Utah Department of Commerce. 

Elizabeth works as the Senior Enforcement Investigator for the Division of Securities and is a critical member of the Securities team. She was instrumental in ending one of the largest Ponzi schemes in Utah’s history. Elizabeth created a task force of state and federal agents who were able to investigate and prosecute the fraud. She was nominated by the U.S. Department of Justice for the United States Attorney General’s award for distinguished service for her work on this case. Elizabeth Blaylock truly represents and serves the Division of Securities, the Department of Commerce, and the state of Utah.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for your dedication to the state of Utah. Keep up the great work! To read about the Governor’s Awards for Excellence, click here.

Fallin’ for Utah’s Scenery

It is the peak time of the year to catch a glimpse of the beautiful autumn colors in our state! 

Whether you are an amateur or experienced hiker, we encourage you to get outside this weekend and check out these hikes for prime leaf viewing. Utah is home to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes, and the fall colors only enhance our state. You can also check out Utah’s scenic byways for other opportunities to see the fall colors!

Remember to practice good etiquette when recreating in the great outdoors, and have fun!

ICYMI

• At the One Utah Summit, we went live with our rural radio show! Thanks to SUU for hosting us in the beautiful Southern Utah Museum of Art and thanks to the Utah Broadcasters Association, Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service students and local officials for showing up. 
• We enjoyed celebrating with ALIGN PRECISION on their success as an economic driver in southern Utah of jobs, manufacturing and aerospace Congratulations and thanks for your contributions to our state.
• We also got a birds-eye view of Utah Iron with a helicopter tour. In Utah, iron mining has a strong legacy dating back to the state’s founding, and it will continue to be important for our future. Thank you, Utah Iron, for advancing material harvesting, processing and finishing in the most environmentally, economically and socially sustainable ways.

Coming up

• Oct. 18-19: We’re welcoming governors from around the country to discuss ways we can improve youth mental health, an initiative by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, president of the National Governors Association. 
• Oct. 20: We’ll spend an hour answering questions from local reporters during the Governor’s Monthly News Conference hosted monthly by PBS Utah. Watch it live on our website or on our Facebook page.
• Oct. 20: We’ll be joining “Let Me Speak to the Governor” on KSL NewsRadio at noon. Tune in or call in!
• Oct. 21: Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson will join leaders at the Salt Lake City and County Building for a roundtable discussion on domestic violence in Utah.
• Oct. 24: We’ll be in Utah County meeting with business, education, and community leaders as part of the Utah 360 Tour. Stay tuned for updates!
• Oct. 24: We’re hosting a Latino Town Hall at the Grand Theatre at Salt Lake Community College! More details here.