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Meet Laurie1.png
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Laurie Stringham was born and raised in Sandy and chose to raise her five children in Kearns. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah in Theater, specializing Technical Theater. She is a business owner, Utah educator, preserver of Arts, Youth Sports and Recreation, and an advocate for those who do not have a voice.  She has served on the Board of Trustees of the Kearns Oquirrh Recreation and Parks District which operates the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center and owns the Utah Olympic Oval.  During her 21 years serving on the board she has worked tirelessly to keep taxes and fees low, develop community services, improve community health and wellness, and oversee a responsible and transparent service district.  She also helped to bring the world to our community and was part of the most successful Winter Games to date, during the 2002 Winter Olympics.  It is the only Olympic games with the facilities still in operation.  She will do the same for Salt Lake County and the amazing communities and cities that make up the Salt Lake Valley.

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As your County Council Representative, Laurie will focus on three vital areas:

  • Financial Accountability

  • Responsible Growth

  • Community Empowerment

These three areas encompass many issues, especially in the environment we are currently facing. Laurie will help focus Salt Lake County on tightening their budgets and focusing on what is vital and necessary.  She knows they will need to decide on growth and development in Salt Lake County and will ensure they are not creating a burden for the residents and Cities.  She has a plan to work with the many communities and cities to make sure that residents are being served equitably, improving the quality of life across the valley.

COMMUNITY POSITIONS

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“Trying to leave this world better than I found it.”

“Taxes go up, but services go down. We can do better by lowering expenses, lowering taxes, and giving Salt Lake County residents more for their dollar.  So much spending is wasteful when we should be innovative. It’s time for a city council that say…

“Taxes go up, but services go down. We can do better by lowering expenses, lowering taxes, and giving Salt Lake County residents more for their dollar. So much spending is wasteful when we should be innovative. It’s time for a city council that says NO to more spending and YES to a responsible budget.”

Financial Accountability


I have saved taxpayers thousands of dollars by innovating government on the West side. I have kept taxes and fees lower than anywhere else in Salt Lake County while providing more services and facilities.  I oversaw a $13.5 million dollar expansion of the Oquirrh Recreation and Park District, connecting it to the Utah Olympic Oval. This project was paid for before the first shovel went into the ground.  What’s more, the project was not paid for by raising taxes or fees but was a creative collaboration between several governmental entities, private and charitable organizations, and the public.  Salt Lake County needs to take a similar approach as we enter a new economy that requires all of us to tighten our belts.  

“As elected officials we have the responsibility to be efficient and meet the needs of the people we serve without overburdening them..”

“As elected officials we have the responsibility to be efficient and meet the needs of the people we serve without overburdening them..”

Responsible Growth


As an elected official, I have advocated on behalf of our community for needed improvements. I am working closely with those who put together a visioning study to properly prepare for growth in the county and I support the plan that was put together by a coalition of City Mayors.

I believe in a fair playing field for both property owners and developers. It’s important we use good practices to align county projects with the interests of property owners before engaging with developers.

I have a vision for more east-to-west corridors, the completion of Mountain View Corridor highway, more transportation options on the east bench, and expanded public transportation—before we continue to develop more.

“The government closest to the people is in the best position to serve the people. While the county has it’s proper role, it should also empower our cities and local communities. The county should be a partner, an innovator and a coordinator in publ…

“The government closest to the people is in the best position to serve the people. While the county has it’s proper role, it should also empower our cities and local communities. The county should be a partner, an innovator and a coordinator in public projects and policy.”

Community Empowerment


Salt Lake County has over a billion-dollar budget which is controlled by our county mayor and the nine-member council.  Furthermore, it has millions in grant funds that come to the county and is passed through to cities and organizations.  Over the years those funds have been delegated less and less to cities and local organizations.  With local involvement and better oversite, we could bring better value and service to our residents, businesses and Salt Lake County cities.

Collaboration and coalition building, driven by the residents and supported by the leadership solves problems. Salt Lake County needs to listen to its residents and leadership.

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Guiding Principles

  1. Be positive

  2. Be honest (You can be both positive and honest.)

  3. Research and learn constantly about changing trends, needs, new technologies and methods

  4. Think creatively

  5. Follow your intuition

  6. Communicate clearly and often

  7. Understand and respect differing views and positions

  8. Fight for what is right but take care to not overstep your legal and constitutional boundaries.

Laurie’s County Concerns:


AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS

“We are facing a housing crisis. My own children, as well as others, cannot find affordable places to rent or purchase. We need to relook at our zoning laws, infrastructure and other resources that are available to make responsible decisions.”

The high demand for homes coupled with low supply of homes available, makes buying and renting less affordable. We must have smart growth. Title 19 of the Salt Lake County code lists each and every zoning law that potentially restricts the supply of housing. We need a full review of our zoning laws and to begin the hard work of reforming them to increase housing while maintaining a well-organized, and responsibly planned county. We need to look at our infrastructure plan to make sure what is approved can be supported. We also need to weigh all of this with the available resources, such as water, sewer and waste, and determine what is sustainable.

Bringing together a coalition of those who have the ability to fix this problem, is one of the keys.  We need a plan that has the support of those who have the ability to solve it, along with those who have the interest to protect the disadvantaged. To get a handle on the rising costs of housing we all need to get on board to make smart changes.


PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS, MASKS AND COVID-19

“COVID-19 is not just a physical disease or pandemic problem. It is an economic, social and mental health issue. We need real, tangible solutions that reach out to those who are struggling and let them know that they are loved, they are needed, and that we will help them.”

The County’s job when it comes to public health is handled through the county department of health in conjunction with the state department of health. Their job is to protect and preserve our health in many aspects of the community. They do this by educating us on how to do things in a safe and healthy manner. COVID-19 is no different.

The message that should be coming from the county is how to protect ourselves, our family and our community from the virus and still be able to do our essential tasks like work, grocery shop, and care for our families. As a school teacher, I am required to teach in person and many of my students have the choice to learn in person or online. But there are some that do not have that option and are coming to school to inadequate resources at home. Masks are important in situations where employees and those they work with do not have the option to stay at home. We also see this in our hospitals, grocery stores and schools. There is another frightening trend coming out of the pandemic and how it is being handled, mental health is suffering and coming to a critical breaking point. I see this with my students and their parents as they try to navigate all the changes happening in their lives. The amount of stress on each one of us and on our children is becoming crippling. We must answer the call for help through education and support for each other.

The first priority should be to increase the number of mental health treatment options in our schools and in our communities. We can do that by investing in education programs for those in the mental health field while decreasing barriers that restrict the amount of mental health providers we have in the state. We can enlarge the scope of practice for various professionals in the field and work to attract top talent to Utah.


HOMELESSNESS

“Our system has failed the most vulnerable of our communities and we must fix it. Their lives are too valuable. We need a plan.”

It is morally wrong to our homeless population and taxpayers to simply move people around or spread them out.  If homelessness were just about getting people a place to live, a job and healthcare (including mental health), we would not continue to have the problems that we have.  We need to continue recognizing that there are a variety of issues to address to lift those out of homelessness. It is more than just providing a home. We have failed at producing lasting results for our fellow human beings and for our communities. Training to get a job is vital, but so are life skills to keep a job. Mental health resources and medication are vital, but so is a community of support and mentoring as they strive to make lasting changes. The process from detox or jail to rehab needs to be more seamless for those dealing with addiction. 

We have very little understanding of how many homeless individuals we have in Utah, much less what their individual needs are. There needs to be collaboration among the service providers to get someone experiencing homelessness into a program that fits their needs. That plan will look different for each person. Some will be able to attain self-sufficiency. Others may need permanent care due to the severity of their condition. Whatever the need, we must meet the challenge to get this population off the streets and into the position of dignity that they deserve.


PUBLIC SAFETY

“Public safety is the number one responsibility of government. It is imperative that we keep our neighborhoods safe and decrease crime. Reforms should be designed to promote public safety and conserve taxpayer dollars.”

To improve public safety, we must reform our criminal justice system. No one who has committed a crime should become a repeat offender. Our system must prioritize rehabilitation over punishment to reduce recidivism and make our streets safer. When someone enters the criminal justice system, that moment should be the beginning of their personal transformation. This should be the type of criminal justice system we create.  To do so, we need to look at serious changes to how we conduct policing, the court system, and incarceration.


WASATCH CANYONS

“If I have learned anything from sitting on various community boards including the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Utah Association of Special Districts, the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, it is the critical importance of grassroots efforts, local control and local decisions..”

Link to Deseret News article and Salt Lake Tribune

In Salt Lake and Summit counties, it is time to apply the federal process known as NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) to determine the solution to our mountain transportation woes. Although the Utah Department of Transportation is managing the project, UDOT must follow the very disciplined NEPA process, due to the fact it is using federal dollars. People live in our canyons. They have their homes there. Because our canyons are faced with natural disasters, it is imperative that we mitigate and solve these issues as soon as possible. It will take leadership from the County Mayor and County Council to work closely with the state to acquire the funding and find the solutions that will make our canyons safe and keep them pristine for decades to come.


TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENT

“Salt Lake County contains one-third of the state’s population and accounts for the majority of Utah’s business activity. We have a responsibility to take care of our air. Our air quality is substantially affected by congestion.”

We need to be ahead of the growth that our state and county are facing. As community leaders we can collectively come together to create functional plans that will make roads safer for our residents. The commute through our counties should be effective with less stress. We need to increase the availability of public transportation to increase ridership and take cars off the road. We also need to complete critical infrastructures. Implementing smarter plans will control our county’s traffic issues, resulting in better air quality for our residents.


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Salt Lake Tribune: Sep. 29, 2020

 

Laurie Stringham: Canyons planning process needs to hear from you

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2 KUTV: Aug. 11, 2020

 

Laurie Stringham announces candidacy for Salt Lake County Council

Read More

Deseret News: June 8, 2020

 

Groups try to hammer out solutions for crowded, at-risk Wasatch canyons

Read More

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Here are ways to get involved in Laurie’s campaign:

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I would love to hear from you!