Ballots will soon arrive in mailboxes across Salt Lake County. My name will be printed on those ballots. I could never have foreseen the ways in which running for this office has impacted me and prepared me for the job I’m asking you to give me. Thanks to the doors I’ve knocked on, neighbors I’ve met and priorities we share, I am ready to get right to work doing all that I can to make our county work better for all of us.
I’m running for the Salt Lake County Council At-Large. This is a position that will give me the responsibility to represent all 1.2 million people who call Salt Lake County home. I am grateful for Councilman Jim Bradley’s 24 years of service. He has been a champion for our county — preserving open space in Dimple Dell, honoring Maurice Abravanel in naming our symphony hall after him, sponsoring our 4-H program, supporting our film industry, being a friend to law enforcement and so on. When I think of Jim’s service, the word “stewardship” is what first comes to mind. I am honored to have the chance to succeed Councilman Bradley.
My pledge to you as a candidate is that I will show up; work hard and deliver results; and serve with the word “stewardship” as my guiding principle.
I’ve now spent almost a year campaigning. As a first-time candidate, I’ve been energized by my thousands of interactions. I may have met you passing out donuts at the Murray Hot Air Balloon Festival, picking up trash at the Friends of Great Salt Lake Coastal Cleanup Project, petting goats at the county 4-H Livestock Auction, receiving inspiration at The Other Side Academy, cheering on the Pirates at a Cyprus High School sporting event in Magna, packaging food at the Utah Food Bank or eating treats at one of the dozens of community festivals and parades that I’ve participated in this year.
Wherever it is I might have met you, I have been honored to make so many new friends this year.
My social media is testament to the fact that I am everywhere. No, I haven’t been cloned. And no, there aren’t enough hours in a day. But this is the behavior you can expect from me as I serve on the County Council. I will always show up for Salt Lake County.
I learned the importance, value and dignity of hard work at a young age. I grew up in a modest household. Money always seemed to be tight, and my parents raised seven children. I started my entrepreneurial journey selling gum out of my backpack in middle school. I was self-sustaining by the age of 18 and soon became the first woman on my mom’s side of the family to earn a college degree. I’ve spent my career managing billions of dollars of assets in the private sector. The company that I manage invests directly in startups right here in Utah.
With our county producing more than half of Utah’s GDP, it’s important to elect someone who understands the economy, someone who can manage a $2 billion budget and someone who can bring about greater transparency and accountability for our tax dollars. A bipartisan coalition of civic and business leaders, including Democratic County Councilwoman Ann Granato, are rallying around my campaign because they know that I am a hard worker with applicable experience and strategic insights.
Once elected to the County Council, I will never stop working for the amazing people of Salt Lake County.
As I’ve spent time in your neighborhoods, I believe that there is so much that we have in common. I believe we all want accountability for our tax dollars; collaborative problem solving to tackle housing affordability, homelessness and transportation needs; and safe parks and neighborhoods for our kids and families to enjoy.
Government works best when it makes data-driven decisions with the needs and priorities of residents at the top of mind.
I am a collaborator. I am methodical in my actions. I am trained to deliver measurable results for the people who count on me. I look forward to serving and delivering results for the young family trying to buy their first home; for the commuter who would rather spend more time with their friends and less time in their car; and for the woman who just wants to take a safe trip to the park with her grandchildren.
Our county government oversees hundreds of departments, projects and programs. I look forward to making sure each one of them operates efficiently and provides the essential services that our residents need and deserve.
When your ballot arrives, fill in that bubble next to my name. In exchange, I promise to show up, work hard and deliver results for you.
(Rachelle Morris) Rachelle Morris is running for the Salt Lake County Council At-Large.
Rachelle Morris is running for the Salt Lake County Council At-Large C. She is a co-founder and managing director of RevRoad Capital and was previously a JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs executive. She loves living in Salt Lake City.
