Bound by a friendship that predates politics, two candidates from opposite sides of the aisle launched an initiative pledging to campaign with integrity and honesty throughout the election season.
Nineteen candidates running for office in Summit County at the federal, state and local levels signed the call for constructive campaigns and civil discourse including those running in the contested races for U.S. Senate, 1st and 3rd Congressional District, Utah House District 4, Summit County Council and Park City School Board District 3.
The effort was spearheaded by Ari Ioannides, a Republican vying for Summit County Council Seat C, and Kris Campbell, a Democrat running to be in the Utah Legislature. They bonded over similar interests at Park City Rotary Club meetings long before party affiliation became of note.
Ioannides and Campbell felt that contentious campaigns damage not just the other opponent, but the community at large, and they wanted to see if the other candidates agreed. Many did.
“We recognize the need and importance of working together across those political boundaries and perspectives to really come together. We do our best when we can come together and unite across the line,” Campbell said. “We as candidates want to listen to people across the political spectrum and want to encourage other people, as well, to listen.”
Campaigns based on lies and half-truths can cause divisive rhetoric to spread, distracting voters from the issues that matter most. Ioannides and Campbell said they’ve witnessed it happen during previous elections. Their effort aims to ensure the candidates discuss their ideas and solutions through respectful and focused dialogue.
The bipartisan pair crafted a draft statement, tweaking it based on each other’s ideas. Then it was distributed to other office-seekers, who sent their feedback. Everyone was quick to support the project, and it provided a lot of insight into the values of each campaign.
The following candidates made the pledge:
- Congressman John Curtis, U.S. Senate
- Caroline Gleich, U.S. Senate
- Congressman Blake Moore, District 1
- Bill Campbell, District 1
- Mike Kennedy, District 3
- Glenn Wright, District 3
- Michelle Quist, Utah Attorney General
- Miles Pomeroy, Utah State Treasurer
- Stacy Bernal, State Senate District 3
- Kera Birkeland, State House District 4
- Kris Campbell, State House District 4
- Hoang Nguyen, State House District 23
- Julie Monahan, State House District 59
- Summit County Councilor Roger Armstrong, Seat A
- Tory Welch, County Council Seat A
- Ari Ioannides, County Council Seat C
- Megan McKenna, County Council Seat C
- Danny Glasser, Park City School Board District 3
- Kathleen Britton, Park City School Board District 3
The document was influenced by the four-way test in Rotary which encourages members to ask: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
But the call to action isn’t just for politicians. It also went out to the media and the public, urging them to do their research and focus on facts.
Campbell said some voters in recent years have found themselves competing in the same “boxing match” as the candidates they endorse. Yet the rules on the campaign trail aren’t always the same for the public. Opposing sides may have hurt feelings and damaged relationships without a way to come back together despite differing perspectives.
That can be eliminated by focusing on the ideas and qualifications of the candidates instead of misinformation and discord, to build a stronger and better community.
“If you’re going to vote for us just because our name is easy to say or because we belong to the same party, I think that does everyone a disservice,” Ioannides said. “There are some great people running out there and there are some clear differences between them that go beyond an R or a D.”
Those involved with the pledge see it as a seed to grow upon and a positive step towards maintaining the democratic republic.
Visit summitcounty.org/281/Voter-Registration-Elections for more information about elections and voter registration in Summit County.