LOGAN – Two well-known Republicans are running for the office of State Representative in Utah District 4: Greg Merrill and Dan Johnson.
The candidates debated on KVNU’s For the People program Wednesday, covering a variety of issues.
Merrill said he grew up on a family farm and worked in broadcasting while also working for the community, in business and other areas as well, including local politics.
“When you go to the legislature there are 75 members there,” Merrill said. “You need to create a coalition almost immediately. My one vote doesn’t do anything. How do you create those coalitions? In most cases, it’s your experiences or similar experiences you’ve had with other members in the legislature that permit you to create that coalition to be able to work together, not only passing bills that they want but passing bills the citizens of Logan want as well.”
Johnson is a career educator and school administrator. He said he has had a tremendous responsibility to oversee dozens of employees at a time and effectively handle taxpayer money.
“It’s accountability with the public funds that I’ve been entrusted with all my life,” explained Johnson, “making decisions about what is best. How can we get the most out of scarce resources? I think that is what I bring to the table, that very broad and deep experience. If people don’t think that education isn’t a business, they haven’t worked at the level that I have.”
The Republican primary in the state of Utah is June 26th.