Local businessman, Mike Petersen, announces candidacy for Utah House District 3, challenging Val Potter

Mike Petersen announces candidacy for Utah Legislative House District 3, February 25, 2020

LOGAN – Local businessman, Mike Petersen, announced he is seeking the Republican nomination for House District 3, challenging incumbent Val Potter.

Petersen announced his candidacy Tuesday, citing a desire to hold the legislature accountable for the 2019 tax reform bill that was passed then repealed during the first week of the 2020 legislative session.

“I have immense respect for Val Potter, our current representative here,” Petersen said to a group of family and friends at local non-profit Jump the Moon. “Folks are telling me his votes don’t represent us anymore. He’s not voting the way we feel about things and so it’s time for him to step aside. We ought to say thank you and let him be released.”

Petersen said he was part of the effort to collect signatures for a statewide referendum opposing the tax reform bill that Rep. Potter and other state legislators favored.

While collecting signatures, Petersen said he talked with dozens of people to get their thoughts on the issue.

“I heard words like angry, frustrated, and discouraged. I heard a lot of people talking about being apathetic because they said their voice isn’t heard or cared about.

“I am confident they are ready for a representative who will commit to support low taxes, limited government, and strong families and communities,” he said.

Petersen said he is also concerned about the number of bills passed each year by the legislature.

“Why in the world do we need 500-plus new laws every year. We’ve got to get a handle on how many bills are being passed and how many times they’re telling us what to do,” he stated.

“I don’t want to make a career out of this, but I want to go in and do some disruption. I want to go in and help change some things. I want to represent you, be your voice, go to the state legislature and let them know how you feel. Let’s make some changes,” Petersen said.

When asked if he would commit to remaining accessible to the people after he was elected, Petersen emphatically answered, “Yes! Otherwise, what’s the point?”

Petersen and his family have lived in Cache Valley for the last 30 years. He is co-owner of Letterpress Software, an instructional design company located in the Innovation Campus at Utah State University. He and his wife Sallie have four children and eight grandchildren.

Visit voteformikepetersen.com to learn more about Mike Petersen.

Petersen also recently appeared on KVNU’s For the People program to discuss his candidacy. You can listen to that interview here: https://www.kvnutalk.com/2-24-2020-2/

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2 Comments

  • Dee Len Petersen February 25, 2020 at 9:19 pm Reply

    I totally agree with Mike Petersen. Let’s get behind him and get him elected.

  • Emily Griffiths May 7, 2020 at 9:41 pm Reply

    Yes! Let’s reopen Cache Valley!

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