Jason Barber
Jason Barber (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Utah House of Representatives to represent District 43. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. The Democratic primary for this office on June 25, 2024, was canceled.
Barber completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jason Barber was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He earned a bachelor's and a graduate degree from the University of Utah. His career experience includes working as a mediator.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Utah House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Utah House of Representatives District 43
Incumbent Steven Eliason and Jason Barber are running in the general election for Utah House of Representatives District 43 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Steven Eliason (R) | |
 | Jason Barber (D)  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jason Barber advanced from the Democratic primary for Utah House of Representatives District 43.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Steven Eliason advanced from the Republican primary for Utah House of Representatives District 43.
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 43
Jason Barber advanced from the Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 43 on March 30, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jason Barber (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 43
Incumbent Steven Eliason advanced from the Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 43 on April 13, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Steven Eliason (R) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jason Barber completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Barber's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I am excited to be running as the Democratic candidate for Utah House District 43. As a professional mediator, I work with people every day to solve complex problems, by focusing on mutual interests, identifying shared meaning, and finding common ground. Too often, leaders from both parties prioritize party loyalty over the needs of the community — engaging in divisive identity politics rather than providing sensible leadership. I have the skills, experience, and temperament we need to break this cycle. As a Legislator, I will lead with balance and integrity, and prioritize collaboration over political games in addressing the issues that matter most to the people of District 43 and of Utah.
- Early Childhood Education: I am passionate about the importance of preparing children, from birth to kindergarten, for their future educational journeys. Parents who want or need early childhood care should have access to high-quality, licensed programs, that utilize developmentally appropriate practices in a variety of settings. To achieve this vision, I believe we should utilize existing federal funding to provide private programs with the support they require and allocate state resources to attract well-trained early childhood educators and create specialized early childhood programs within Utah’s public school system. I commit to upholding these values to ensure that every child receives the educational foundation they truly deserve.
- Affordable Housing: The current situation of high land prices, record home values, high interest rates, and low housing inventory is making homeownership more difficult, and the increasing cost of rent is causing too many Utahns to downsize, or make sudden and unnecessary housing decisions that disrupt family, work, and community. This crisis requires a collaborative approach that transcends partisan divides. As your legislator, I will sponsor and support balanced legislation, considering concerns from both sides of the aisle, to tackle this issue effectively. My approach to affordable housing centers around three pillars: 1. Responsible and Affordable Lending 2. Expanding Affordable Housing Inventory 3. Protecting Renter’s Rights
- Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure: I firmly believe that by managing our infrastructure development intelligently, we can achieve sustainable progress while honoring our growing and diverse population, preserving Utah's natural environment, protecting the Great Salt Lake, ensuring clean air quality, and safeguarding our valuable natural resources. To achieve this we must pro-actively promote responsible growth, support our minority population and diverse owned businesses, boost tourism and major league sports expansion, expand mass transit to include more commuter and light-rail options, walkable developments, and focus on central/community based housing development.
Early Childhood Education, Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure Development, Affordable Housing.
I highly recommend “Negotiating the Nonnegotiable” by Daniel Shapiro. This book presents a systematic and comprehensive approach to addressing seemingly insurmountable conflicts. It offers readers a detailed and sequential roadmap for resolving disputes, providing valuable perspectives on identifying concealed values and beliefs. Moreover, it emphasizes effective communication techniques that pave the way for peaceful resolutions.
It is important that elected officials listen to their constituents and to their opponents, focus on policy over politics, and lead with integrity.
I practice, and understand the importance of diplomacy, listening to ideas, and exercising tactical empathy.
It is vital that legislators support laws that are Constitutional, constructive, and meet the needs of the community, and avoid legislating based on identity politics or political posturing.
I’d like to be remembered a peace-maker.
I remember the Iran hostage crisis. I was 9-10 years old.
I worked for Albertsons for 11 years, from age 16 to age 27.
“The Road”, by Cormack McCarthey. It a poetic and beautiful examination of a man’s struggle with faith, courage, love, and endurance in the face of the most horrific circumstances imaginable. Despite its tragic story, it’s message of uplift and hope is extraordinary.
“Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel.
The Governor and the Legislature must always strive to achieve balance in creating constructive laws that are constitutional, enforceable, and in the best interest of the people, and, the two must remain focused on the fine line between investment and over-spending.
Environmental management (Great Salt Lake, water conservation, land use), managing population growth, transportation, affordable housing, affordable higher-education.
It is crucial that legislators build relationships with other legislators and that these relationships cross party lines. It is only through constructive conflict, debate, exchange of ideas, and building upon personal relationships that the best interests of the people can be met.
Although I don’t agree with everything, and he is of the opposite party, I think Ben Sasse was a great example of a Senator who could discuss difficult issues with diplomacy and decorum, and was able to work across the aisle to achieve strong legislation.
The Honeysuckle Coffee Co. in East Sandy is one of my favorite District 43 hangouts. I’ve been a customer for years and am proud to call owners friends. Despite the challenges of transplanting their family to Utah from the east coast, and their business getting hammered during COVID, the owners persevered to eventually open a second location in the Ballpark neighborhood of SLC. Their success is a testament to what can happen through incredible hard work and the loyal support of this amazing District 43 community.
Knock knock? Who’s there? Interrupting cow. Interrupting cow wh- Moo!
I am not familiar enough with this issue to make an informed comment.
Something related to expanding early childhood education.
Judicial, Education, Economic Development, Health and Human Services.
The public trust must always be maintained. It is therefore of upmost importance for government to offer the public reasonable access to financial data, and for legislators and officials to be held accountable for the use of public resources.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Utah House of Representatives District 43 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 8, 2024
