Running for Utah legislature in District 5 is the first venture into politics for Chuck Bateman, a 10-year resident of Providence and a candidate with credentials for his work in agricultural education and financial industries. On KVNU’s Crosstalk show Wednesday, Bateman said he will be challenging fellow Republican incumbent Curt Webb for the seat. “The way things are going today, with the federal government’s encroachment upon states’ sovereignty, the freedom and liberties of our people and the taking of our land, I felt that maybe…I could best serve at the state level which I had been asked,” Bateman said. “So it was a nice fit and as long as people would support me I would throw my hat in the ring and do what I could do.” Bateman says he was encouraged to run by some key people involved with the local Independence Caucus. He believes the federal government is blatantly encroaching upon the freedoms and liberties of the people. He also believes the federal government is overstepping its bounds on the sovereignty of the state, especially with the confiscation of lands. He sees eminent domain as a huge issue. “That is going to be one of the things that we’re going to get locked into a battle with the federal government because of what they are doing via executive orders from the executive branch, in essence the President,” Bateman explains. “So we’ll see what happens. “But we’ve got to stand up for this. The tremendous amount of minerals and so forth that are on these lands are vitally important for Utah to go forward and fund its educational system.” If elected, Bateman says he will stand up for states’ rights as provided for in the Constitution. Both Bateman and Webb are residents of Providence.