Campaign Phone
(385)205-1222
Current Employment
Retired Foreign Service Officer, US Department of State
Education
BA - Communications/ Spanish - Weber State University, MSS - Management of Human Resources/ Sociology & Economics - Utah State University
Campaign Website
www.cjforsenate.com
We need to open up housing supply and give communities more tools to build attainable housing. States like Montana and Idaho have passed reforms allowing duplexes and more “missing-middle” housing, and Utah should consider similar approaches by easing zoning restrictions for smaller-lot homes and workforce housing.
We should also expand funding for workforce and starter housing, streamline responsible development, and offer incentives for developers who build attainable units near jobs, schools, and transit, while ensuring growth remains sustainable and developers contribute fairly to infrastructure and community impacts.
Utah needs a balanced transportation strategy that prepares for long-term growth. We should maintain critical highways while investing more in public transit and “last-mile” connections that help people reach jobs, schools, and services.
Ogden has made important strides expanding transit access, and I would work with the state to bring rapid-bus-transit systems to other communities in Senate District 5, including Clearfield. Public transit is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce traffic and pollution, and with the 2034 Winter Olympics approaching, we cannot afford to delay critical transit investments.
Improving winter inversion air quality requires tackling pollution at the source. Protecting the Great Salt Lake is crucial, as it directly impacts regional air quality and public health. I support stronger industrial emissions standards during red and yellow air days, strengthening 'no idling' policies, expanding public transit, and investing in cleaner transportation and energy-efficient buildings.
I also support expanding the Community Renewable Energy Program (CREP), which Ogden recently joined alongside several Utah communities. The state should incentivize participation and recruit additional cities to join and expand the timeline to do so.
We should end the state sales tax on groceries. Kansas and other states have already done it. Utahns shouldn't pay sales tax on the basics.
We should build toward universal childcare. New Mexico funded universal childcare through a 2022 constitutional amendment. Utah doesn't have the same revenue source, but we can build toward access through sliding-scale tax credits and a state-matched provider grant program.
Expand Utah’s First Time Homebuyer Assistance Program. The current $20,000 program covers down payment, closing costs, or rate buydowns — but only for newly constructed homes. Open it to existing homes so first-time buyers in Ogden, Roy, and Riverdale aren't shut out of the resale market.
Utah must pursue stronger conservation measures across every sector. We should pass meaningful water conservation legislation that holds the largest rights-holders accountable, expand the state’s water buyback program, modernize agricultural irrigation, and incentivize lower-water crops where appropriate.
We also need water-efficient landscaping, infrastructure repairs, water recycling and reuse, and stronger building standards. High-demand users like data centers should meet strict efficiency and wastewater treatment requirements. I also support stronger public input, environmental review, and local approval requirements for major industrial projects with significant water or energy impacts.
Campaign Phone
8017218498
Current Employment
Deputy Director - Davis County Recorder's Office
Education
Weber State and Western Governor's University
Campaign Website
Wurth4Senate.com
State policy should do more to incentivize cities to approve housing that is attainable for working families. One of the most effective tools is expanding density bonuses that allow construction of additional units when they include affordable, owner-occupied housing. Utah has a severe shortage of starter homes, townhomes, and condominiums that give young families a realistic path to homeownership. The state should reward cities that encourage mixed-income neighborhoods, streamline approval processes, and modernize zoning to allow thoughtful density near jobs, schools, and transit. Homeownership remains one of the most important ways families build wealth and stability, and Utah should make it easier for the next generation.
Utah’s transportation investments should focus on moving people efficiently, not building more lanes. Maintaining critical highway infrastructure is important, but we cannot build our way out of congestion through road expansion alone. The state should fully fund UTA, expand FrontRunner and bus service, and accelerate transit projects in rapidly growing communities. We must also invest in “last-mile” solutions such as safe sidewalks, bike lanes, and microtransit that help people connect to jobs, schools, and transit stations. A balanced transportation system gives Utahns more choices, reduces traffic, improves air quality, and supports economic growth. Strategic investments in public transit and active transportation must become a priority.
Improving Utah’s winter air quality requires addressing the sources of pollution while giving people practical alternatives. I support expanding public transit, funding UTA, and investing in walkable communities to reduce vehicle emissions. We should accelerate the transition to cleaner energy, strengthen energy efficiency standards for homes and businesses, and encourage electrification of buildings and transportation. The state should also limit emissions from large industrial polluters and data centers, improve air quality monitoring, and support local governments in implementing evidence-based solutions. Clean air is not a partisan issue but a public health issue, and every Utahn deserves the right to breathe healthy air year-round.
Utah families are being squeezed by rising costs while wages struggle to keep pace. The state should expand access to affordable childcare, increase investments in early childhood programs, and provide targeted tax relief for working families rather than top earners. We should strengthen workers’ rights, support collective bargaining, and raise wages so people can keep more of what they earn. Utah can also lower household energy costs through efficiency programs and investments in renewable energy. To address grocery costs, we should support local food production, strengthen competition, and crack down on corporate price gouging. Economic growth should benefit working families, not just the wealthy. Families deserve relief now, not someday.
Utah must take a comprehensive approach to water conservation that recognizes every sector has a role to play. I support expanding turf replacement programs, strengthening water-efficient building standards, and helping homeowners and businesses adopt conservation technologies. Government agencies should lead by example through aggressive water reduction targets. Agriculture should receive support to modernize irrigation systems while ensuring conservation investments produce measurable savings. Industrial users, including data centers, should be required to meet strict water-efficiency standards, utilize water recycling where possible, and demonstrate a clear public benefit before receiving permits or incentives. Water is a shared resource
