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.

Utah 360 Recap: Utah County

As part of the Utah 360 Tour, we're traveling all over the state and meeting with different groups and organizations to talk about the issues that are important to them. Here's a look at our stop in Utah County.

We started the day at a town hall with Silicon Slopes where we talked water, growth and family friendly policies. Our next stop was Timpview High School, where we got to meet and talk with students about the importance of being involved in their communities and mental health. And First Lady Abby Cox spoke with administrators about how we can support them and the Show Up Utah initiatives. At the Brigham Young University Wheatley Institute we focused on civic engagement, doing good and strengthening our institutions. 

We enjoyed meeting with Qualtrics employees about air quality, affordable housing and opportunity for all. With the Association of General Contractors and Homebuilders, we talked about the regulatory environment, interest rates and challenges facing Utah’s construction sector. We rounded out the day with a teacher town hall with the Alpine School District. We listened to teachers and discussed youth mental health, phones in school, teacher pay and how we can support our educators. 

Thanks to everyone for taking time to meet. See photos from our visit here and stay tuned for more Utah 360 updates!

Connecting with Latinos in Utah

On Monday, we met with members of the Latino community in Utah for a town hall. More than 500 people showed up at Salt Lake Community College and it was amazing! There was delicious food, energetic dance performances and information booths staffed by state and local partners about available community resources.  

During the town hall, we answered questions about education, health care, housing, domestic violence, immigration and more. No matter where you come from, Utah is your home. You belong here, and we are proud to serve you. 

We appreciate Salt Lake Community College and President Deneece Huftalin for hosting us. We’re especially grateful to the interpreters, the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs and Director Nubia Peña – our senior advisor for equality and opportunity – for organizing this special event and moderating the discussion.

Learn more about available resources and community events with the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs.

Get out and vote!

Ballots are sitting on kitchen tables around the Beehive State as the tear-off calendar counts down to Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Here are five things to remember if you’re an eligible voter in Utah:

• If you’re mailing your ballot, you need to get the envelope postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by Monday, Nov. 7. Polling locations and secure drop boxes accept ballots until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• If you have questions about how county clerks administer elections in Utah, contact your county clerk. No questions are off limits. You can also learn about our election security online at voteinfo.utah.gov/safe/
• You can vote and register in person on Election Day or at an early voting location in your county. You can find polling places, secure drop boxes, and other information about voting in your county here.
• Voters have responsibilities, too. Track your ballot throughout its entire journey via automated text and email updates with ballottrax.utah.gov
• Eligible Utahns who exercise their franchise directly shape local and federal government. From roads and taxes to housing and the economy – your elected officials shape the world around you. Your vote is your voice. Use it!

Make sure to cast your vote! Visit elections.utah.gov for more information on voting in Utah.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson met with law enforcement from Davis, Weber, Carbon, and Emery counties this week as she continues her statewide outreach to refine and expand tools to help police officers and victims during domestic violence incidents. 

She is working with CCJJ Executive Director Tom Ross, DPS Commissioner Jess Anderson, and stakeholders around Utah to identify and fill the gaps in our response to domestic violence. Last Friday, the lieutenant governor and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall convened an unprecedented roundtable with state, county, and city leaders to bolster statewide coordination. 

Far too many Utahns have endured the nightmare of domestic violence and our administration is committed to bringing everyone to the table in search of solutions. If you, or someone you know, don’t feel safe or in control in your relationship, Utah has resources to help. Contact the statewide 24/7 domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-5465 or send a confidential message through the Safe UT app.

Stay Safe, Utah 

Pedestrian fatalities are highest in the fall and winter months, with the month of October typically being the deadliest for pedestrians. Utah has already seen a record high number of fatalities – 43 – this year.

Yesterday, the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and Intermountain Healthcare experts addressed the rise in pedestrian fatalities seen on Utah roads and encouraged safety measures for both drivers and pedestrians. Please, slow down and watch out for pedestrians.

Click here for an update on pedestrian crashes and fatalities and tips for a pedestrian-safe holiday weekend.

IRONMAN returns to St. George

The IRONMAN is back again in the land of endurance. on Oct 28th, and Oct 29th, will be filled with excitement in St. George as athletes gear up for the IRONMAN. Following a COVID hiatus, St. George welcomed the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in September 2021 and in May 2022 became the first location to host an IRONMAN World Championship outside of Hawaii since its origin in 1978.  

The IRONMAN race is considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. Exceptional athletes from all around the world compete, and we are glad to welcome these athletes to Utah this week. 

"We have witnessed a cultural shift as our state emerges as a global destination for endurance sports," said Utah Sports Commission President and CEO Jeff Robbins. "Continuing to bring IRONMAN to Utah is an easy decision as it truly epitomizes the spirit of Utah: The State of Sport."

Good luck to all the competitors this weekend! For more info about the race and to follow along, click here.

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 Heidi Clausen with the Utah Department of Government Insurance! 

Heidi exemplifies and surpasses what it means to be a great leader and is admired for her work ethic, knowledge, and thoroughness. Heidi continually takes on additional tasks to keep the department running smoothly and works to protect Utah consumers and assure a fair playing field for Utah’s life and health insurers. She willingly shares her knowledge, providing excellent training to her team to assure they have the skills necessary to excel in their responsibilities. Her input is well respected and vital in many decision points. 

Due to staffing issues this past year, Heidi’s willingly expanded her responsibilities to assure the department fulfilled its essential duties. She also developed an extensive new document management process that not only assisted her area, but also the entire Health & Life Division to ensure critical documentation is preserved and easily accessed for the team to better serve the Department’s customers. 

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

Happy Halloween from #OneUtah

Halloween is right around the corner! In honor of spooky season, we are highlighting some of Utah’s otherworldly sites. 

Northeastern Utah is home to “The Unknown & Otherworldly” that inspires existential, and extraterrestrial thinking. Tourists from around the world visit northeastern Utah to try and catch a glimpse at the paranormal sites that may exist at Skinwalker Ranch, Blind Frog Ranch, Dinosaur National Monument, Fantasy Canyon and Nine Mile Canyon. When setting out to see these places, remember to be respectful of the land you are on, listen to your tour guides and always check with locals before you head out on your adventure. 

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

ICYMI

• On Wednesday, we met with Utah military commanders to talk about ways the state can assist service members in their duties. We’re grateful for the work military commanders do for our state. 
• Vote by mail is a safe and secure way to vote — no matter your politics. Watch the lieutenant governor’s bipartisan PSA with Oregon Secretary Of State Shemia Fagan.
• Last week, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality got the keys to the first all-electric truck in the state of Utah’s fleet. It is estimated by fleet services that this truck alone will reduce overall emissions by 13, 156 miles each year! Congrats, DEQ!
• On Tuesday, Women in Business, a community of Utah women business leaders, recognized Lt. Gov. Henderson with the Champion for Utah Women award for her trailblazing efforts to launch Return Utah, a back-to-work program for experienced adults who want to jump into the workforce. Congratulations, Lt. Governor! Learn more about Return Utah.
• We joined The Hill for an interview to discuss 'The State of American Education.' Click here to learn more about Utah’s efforts to help children excel post-pandemic.  
• Lt. Gov. Henderson joined Go Utah’s Business Elevated Podcast this week to talk about her role as lieutenant governor and her advocacy on behalf of women and families. It’s a fun and wide-ranging conversation. Listen here!

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