Former Midway Mayor Celeste Johnson received 65% of the vote at the Utah Democratic Party nominating convention on April 25, making her the party’s nominee for the state House District 59 seat.  Mike Kohler, who currently serves as the House District 59 representative, is not seeking reelecti on. There will be no primary election for House District 59 Democratic candidates because Johnson received the majority vote over Democrat Micah Kagan. A Republican primary election will be held in June to determine who Johnson will face in November.  Johnson said earning the majority vote from party delegates was “meaningful.” “It was a very energizing event,” Johnson said. “Very positive energy.” Now, Johnson will focus on campaigning and fundraising before the general election in November. Johnson said she decided to run for the House District 59 seat because she appreciates having a representative in the Legislature who is familiar with the Wasatch Back.  House District 59 serves Summit and Wasatch counties.  But Johnson also hopes to “add diversity” to the pool of state representatives — 61 of whom are Republicans. Fourteen are Democratic representatives.  “If it were reversed, if the super majority were Democrat, I would be just as troubled as I am with the Republican super majority,” Johnson said. “I feel like it limits healthy discussion from different perspectives. That’s something I hope I’ll be able to bring to the table.” As a former two-term mayor of Midway City, Johnson said she has experience working with Republican and Democratic representatives on major issues, such as affordable housing and open space — a topic Johnson has been passionate about from the start of her time in local government.  But Johnson believes the No. 1 issue in Wasatch and Summit counties is the housing cost.  “What I hope to bring is a perspective to the Legislature that a one-size-fits-all solution isn’t going to solve this dilemma,” Johnson said. “We have a housing shortage in our state, and we’ve got to be able to work with the counties to come up with solutions.” Johnson is also dedicated to working for families, mothers and children.  “We are dead last, 11 years running, for women’s equity. We’re in the bottom percentages, disturbingly so, for domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse,” Johnson said. “I want to raise awareness that that’s very real, and that data is very solid … that we have to have legislation that not only builds up our women and children but punishes the perpetrators.” Justice, she said, often means that women simply have a safe place to live and work, and it’s a simple thing, but something that is often overlooked.  Johnson said she will also continue to work to protect open space if elected to represent House District 59.  “Protecting our farms and our ranches through conservation easements and, in turn, that provides for cleaner air and that provides for a healthier environment,” Johnson said.  Dark skies protection, open lands and water are all priorities for Johnson. She referenced initiatives already in practice, such as two $5 million voter-approved open space bonds, which passed in 2018 and 2024 while she was in office. “The last one passed by 71%. That is clearly something that our community wants,” Johnson said. “Park City, they started this whole open space conservation way before we did, but we learned from them, and I support them as well in their efforts.” Johnson said she would work to adequately represent both Wasatch and Summit counties.  “We have more in common than we have disparity,” Johnson said. “I think some of the issues we look at now are the fact that both of our communities rely heavily on tourism, and we want to make sure that tourism is supported but not at the expense of our communities.” Johnson’s plan if elected is to have open dialogue with elected officials and ensure that her constituents feel heard.  “My experience as mayor has shown me that the Legislature can either help or hurt us, and I have examples of both,” Johnson said.  The post Celeste Johnson secures Democratic nomination for House District 59 appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less