Darlene McDonald, founding father of 1Utah Undertaking, speaks throughout a Involved Coalition Public Well being Rally on the Capitol in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, the place contributors demanded partisan politics be faraway from Utah’s public well being insurance policies. Mengshin Lin, Deseret Information
I used to be upset for a number of causes when the Utah state Legislature’s new district maps had been introduced. One purpose was that I used to be now not on Utah’s Fourth congressional district after a few years of being there. And that was disappointing as a result of it meant I'd not have the ability to vote for a unprecedented, once-in-a-generation chief to characterize us within the U.S. Home of Representatives. So as a substitute, I’m telling those that are in district 4 why they need to contemplate voting for Darlene McDonald.
I first met McDonald in the summertime of 2017 at a rally to guard protection for preexisting situations. As a kidney transplant recipient with two sons who had been born with kidney points, it is a deeply private problem for me. McDonald spoke of her personal expertise because the mom of a son with a coronary heart situation, and I don’t recall ever being extra moved by somebody’s phrases.
Over time I've come to know McDonald as one of the dedicated, clever and compassionate folks I've ever had the privilege to name a buddy. Late final 12 months, when my household skilled a household tragedy, Darlene reached out and confirmed a lot love and assist for my spouse, my kids and me. As a result of that’s who she is. McDonald genuinely cares about her fellow human beings in a manner that I, as an individual of religion, can solely name Christlike. McDonald really cares for her fellow human beings, and I imagine that’s a worth that's sadly missing in each our society and in those that characterize us.
As somebody who has had the chance to testify to a congressional committee, and who has contacted Utah’s members of congress repeatedly to specific my views, I can let you know that members of congress are higher at speaking than listening. That’s one thing that might be very totally different with McDonald as a consultant of her district. She listens, and she or he listens to grasp. McDonald has an in depth information of coverage points that by no means ceases to amaze me. She would deliver a large and deep information of many points to Congress, and a dedication to Utah and Utah households. However she’s additionally very open to new concepts and different folks’s experiences. And he or she makes use of that information to kind good coverage concepts. Her dedication to household contains plans to assist enhance entry to maternal well being care and get Utah moms the assistance they want for each their bodily and psychological well being. Points like this are the center of being pro-family, not empty posturing about wedge points that solely serves to additional divide us.
McDonald moved to Utah in 2002, which implies she’s lived right here lengthy sufficient to know our state and its folks, and that she selected to make her dwelling right here. I’ve seen her drive to enhance our communities compel her to talk out and get entangled in so many points previously 5 years, and I’ve witnesses her potential to work with a broad vary of individuals of various backgrounds, circumstances and beliefs to get issues finished. She is in politics for the suitable causes: She desires to make issues higher for all of us, not elevate her personal profile for private acquire. She is the kind of sincere, integrous and basically respectable individual we'd like in congress.
By means of her connection to and understanding of Utah’s minority communities, McDonald would deliver what I contemplate a badly wanted new perspective to Utah’s typically ideologically slim congressional delegation. She’d be a voice for many who are missing one. However make no mistake, her dedication to serving to our minority communities and people most in want doesn't make her much less involved or compassionate for the remainder of us. She’d deliver a ardour for ensuring that liberty and justice for all really means for all of us. She’d deliver an understanding of American historical past and a willingness to face and be taught from each our brightest and darkest moments.
I don’t get to vote for McDonald, however I endorse her with full enthusiasm and implore the voters of the fourth congressional district to go to votedarlene.com and have a look at her platform. And please contemplate voting to elect one of many most interesting members of congress ever to characterize Utah.
Paul Gibbs is an impartial filmmaker and well being care activist from West Valley Metropolis, Utah.