Originally published in the Deseret News.

I pay a lot of attention to the Utah governor’s race because of the importance of the chief executive to the success of our state. I want to make a plea for a more policy-oriented governor’s race.

My plea is born of experience. Governors matter. They set the direction for the state and lead in times of crisis. In the 2016 election we have three accomplished and talented candidates vying for office. We need to learn more about their policies and vision for the state.

Continue reading A plea for a more policy-oriented governor’s race →

Originally published in the Deseret News.

This week, a Carnival cruise ship left Miami, crossed the Florida Straits and docked in Havana, Cuba. Over 700 passengers stepped off the ship into a socialist country that has endured a half century of Cold War hostility. If these visitors are anything like me, they left with a love for the Cuban people and a renewed commitment to strengthen ties with this extraordinary place.

Continue reading Engagement is the right path for US-Cuba relations →

Originally published in the Deseret News.

About 1,400 small-business owners, entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders will gather at the Grand America Hotel on Friday for the 10th annual Governor’s Economic Summit. It will be a celebration of sorts, as the Utah economy continues to impress. The Beehive State created nearly 45,000 jobs over the past year and is in its sixth year of solid economic growth. The Crossroads of the West stands strong.

A hallmark of the governor’s economic summit is a mindset toward the future. As a speaker at the summit I will present several trends for attendees to contemplate as we plan for a prosperous future. Three of these trends are worthy of a broader discussion.

Continue reading Crossroads of the West Stand Strong →

Originally published in the Deseret News.

“Pull up a seat, you’re welcome at the table, there’s room and abundance for all.” — Peggy Noonan

Sometimes I feel like we live in a darkening world. Light is all around us, but each day the flame dims as disheartening events turn us away from the light — bombings in Paris and Brussels, the sorry state of American presidential politics and the need for fetal pain abortion laws. There are a lot of hard things to process every day. We live in challenging times.

This week the light in the world got a little brighter because of renewed efforts to serve the world’s refugee population. The source of that light came from Utah. The world is a brighter place today.

The “I was a stranger” effort, launched by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, builds upon a long history of sisterly love in Utah. It’s a history served as well by Catholic Community Services and other faith-based, governmental and nonprofit entities. In Utah, we welcome the world. As one female leader with the LDS Church put it, “This is not a program; it is who we are.”

Continue reading Welcoming refugees: Come break bread with us →

Originally published in the Deseret News.

In a clever piece of writing, the Economist magazine said Donald Trump is to public service what professional wrestling is to sport. The magazine’s writers characterized his candidacy as “a suspension of belief for escapists.” They are escaping a Washington, D.C., that doesn’t work anymore. I get it. With his nomination a near fait accompli and another toxic confirmation battle brewing over President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court, many Americans are beyond belief and need to escape for a while. Fortunately, there are many other worthy escape plans.

Continue reading Escaping American politics →

Originally published in the Deseret News.

“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” — Abraham Lincoln

The Republican Party calls itself the party of Lincoln. The GOP could learn a lot from Lincoln right now.

Lincoln governed during a time of extraordinary division. By the time he delivered his first inaugural address, seven states had already seceded from the union. He begged his countrymen to be touched by the better angels of their nature. He said, “We are not enemies, but friends.” Lincoln possessed civic grace.

Today, the Republican Party could use a little civic grace. The party reeks with division and incivility. What should be a grand discussion about ideas and the right vision for America instead resembles a kindergarten playground conversation of “My dad is bigger than your dad.” Even worse, conservative principles like limited government and free enterprise are lost in the rhetoric of building walls and inciting trade wars. I find myself yearning for something better.

Continue reading Civic grace in political elections →

Originally published in the Deseret News.

You can always tell when a pot of water is ready to boil. Hundreds of small air pockets begin to accumulate. Within seconds the tipping point occurs and the boiling begins.

While not a perfect comparison, a similar phenomenon is occurring at the nexus of Utah’s two largest counties. What locals call the “Point of the Mountain” is reaching an economic boiling point. The growth of Salt Lake and Utah counties are coming together. It’s the most significant change in Utah’s urban dynamics in a generation, and it presents significant economic opportunity.

Continue reading The Point of the Mountain is beginning to boil →