Tom Liljegren, D-Smithfield, is running for Utah’s District 2 Representative seat because he wants voters to have a Democratic option on the ballot.
Liljegren referenced a study done by the Utah Foundation titled, “Priced Out and Fed Up: Cost of Living and Government Dysfunction are Voters’ Top Issues.”
He believes in more transparency in government, effective communication between the legislature and residents, and “…wanting to give voice to the concerns of people in north Cache Valley.”
On Liljegren’s campaign website, there is a section titled, “Representation and Dignity for All,” something he says is key to his platform. Liljegren feels like any supermajority within politics is less effective than a process in which multiple voices are present.
“I don’t think it’s healthy for any party, whether that’s Republicans or Democrats, to have a voice that can drown out the opposition,” Liljegren said. “I think the more we can bring differences of opinion and bring people with different backgrounds and expertise to the legislature, I think that gives better discussion and better laws.”
Liljegren feels as though, “…the language that comes out of the legislature and some of the legislation that has come out of our legislature makes some individuals in our community less welcome.”
Education is something Liljegren said he takes a big interest in as well. He said he liked legislation increasing salaries for teachers, adding stipends for student-teachers and increasing funding for kindergarten. However, he believes overall funding for education is too low.
He said he would like to see “more continued dedication to increasing that funding, so we’re not the second lowest in the country.”
Liljegren thanked the teachers throughout the state, despite them dealing with what he believes is an underfunded system.
“I think the reason why we’re still able to do pretty good in education, despite that, is because of really good teachers,” Liljegren said. “I think there are good parents and good teachers who are really dedicated to helping their students learn but we could just do a lot better and have less students falling through the cracks.”
Liljegren is from the Salt Lake City area, where he attended the University of Utah. He then moved to Logan and did his graduate study at Utah State University. He and his wife have two daughters, with another on the way, and they love spending time together as a family. He is a big Boston Red Sox fan, loves music, reading and participating in events around Cache Valley in the fall.
“I think we have a great area and I’d like to do what we can to keep it that way,” Liljegren said. “Whether that be managing growth, managing water resources and other things, so it can keep being a great place for us.”
Liljegren is running against incumbent Michael Petersen, R-North Logan.
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