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The Utah Citizens’ Candidate initiative started after a posting on Craigslist seeking applicants for the position of “Courageous Congressperson” to represent District Two in the upcoming Democratic election. Criteria for the job included “commitment to transparency” and to “defending fundamental human rights over corporate profits.” After withstanding an early setback when the initially chosen candidate, Dr. John Weis, unexpectedly withdrew, the Citizens’ Candidate Initiative has continued to move forward with its efforts to offer a congressional representative chosen by and for the people of Salt Lake’s District Two.
Claudia Wright at the Public Interviews
Claudia Wright, the new Citizens’ Candidate, was bested by Weis by less than five votes in the initial runoff voting process. Now that she has been asked to take his place as the Citizens’ Candidate, Wright says she is delighted to take the reins. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss issues that have been absent from the public dialogue for too long. This campaign is about the big picture, and I am ready to move forward into this role,” Wright explained. Weis offered Wright and the initiative his continued support through the duration of the Citizens’ Candidate campaign.
Wright is a career educator who has spent much of her life teaching History, Humanities, Women’s Studies and Gender Studies to high school and then to college students. She currently teaches at the Universities of Phoenix and Utah, and has received myriad awards as an exceptional educator, including the Excellence in Teaching Award from Brigham Young University, and Teacher of the Year from the Excel Foundation. Wright is a founding member of the Utah Chapter of the Human rights Coalition. She has hiked and camped all over Utah’s deserts and mountains, and is passionate about environmental and sustainability issues. She is a vocal advocate for universal health care, having suffered great personal loss in her family circle as a result of inadequate access to health care. She is a member of the LGBT community, and a vocal advocate for equal rights for Utah’s LGBT citizens.
The final candidate was selected at a public interview and runoff vote open to citizens of District Two, held at the SLC Library on January 30th. After a panel of seven representatives from local progressive groups that support the Citizens’ Candidate initiative interviewed the four final candidates and the audience of about 110 locals asked them questions, all present District Two voters offered their ranked choices for their preferred candidates. The instant runoff voting process reflected that preferential differences between John Weis and Claudia Wright were marginal in the first round of voting, and that majority support clearly favored Wright after Weis’ votes were redistributed.
Visit the Citizens’ Candidate website to learn more and find out how you can support this bold new step in grassroots democracy.
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Thanks for the article …… nice one……
I liked very much…….
I met Ms Wright yesterday at the Democratic caucus in Moab. And I can honestly say that I have not been this impressed by a candidate in a long time. She spoke her mind and told us what issues she was for and against, not in rhetorical generalities, but in honest and very specific terms.
She is against storing nuclear waste here in Utah. She is for healthcare reform. She is against the nuclear power plant in Green river which will not provide Utah with any power but will pollute the environment.
I was very impressed and I hope I can help her campaign to make her our next congresswoman.