Candidate Information Form: Utah House – District 64

Name: Boyd Petersen

Registered Party: Democrat

District: 64

Address: 1442 East 800 South Provo, Utah 84606

Phone: 801-375-4072

Email: boyd.petersen@comcast.net

Website: www.voteforboyd.com

Candidate Background Information

Occupation: Teacher

Education: PhD University of Utah, MA University of Maryland, BA Brigham Young University

Prior Experience: Senior Information Specialist, Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress; Staff Assistant, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Congressional Intern

Questions

The League of Women Voters has made every effort to present accurately the candidates' responses as they were submitted.

1. If elected, what two things do you hope to accomplish as a member of the House of Representatives for the people of Utah ?
   
   My first two priorities will be ethics reform and funding public education. I believe that we must demand strong ethical behavior of our elected representatives and, in order to assure that behavior, we must have solid ethics laws on the books. I also believe we need to prioritize our funding to reflect our basic commitment to our children's education. We must also stop meddling in and micromanaging local school districts.
   
   
2. How would you address the following issues? (Please answer each question in 200 words or less.)
   - Adequate funding for education, including funding for disadvantaged populations such as non-English-speakers and prison inmates
   
   We need to reprioritize our funding so we place our children's interests first by increasing per-pupil spending, attracting and keeping quality teachers, and recognizing the advantages of locally controlled schools. I oppose top-down management of schools like the No Child Left Behind act.
   
   - Energy resource development and clean air
   
   We need to work to reduce our dependence on dirty energy sources, encourage use and development of public transportation, and recognize that green technology can be a leading industry for Utah.
   
   - Water development and conservation
   
   The west is confronted with a growing population which challenges our water resources. We need to encourage more conservation and plan for water shortages.
   
   - Better communication between elected officials and their constituents
   
   Elected officials need to listen to their constituents, reflect their values, and vote for their interests. I believe the biggest problem with our current legislature is the arrogant way they disregard and discredit voters' wishes. State referendum laws are an excellent way to decide controversial issues, like school vouchers, that affect all Utah citizens. Town meetings should be used to listen to voters concerns rather than lecture them on the way they should think. And elected leaders need to be accountable to their constituency.
   
   
3. If the State had a revenue surplus of $100 million, how would you allocate the money? (Response should include $______________ for ________________________________.