SOUTH JORDAN — Saying more attention needs to be paid to working-class people, an Ogden native plans to make a Green Party bid for the U.S. House seat now held by Rep. Rob Bishop.

Bishop, says Adam Davis, a tech consultant for software companies who's now living in South Jordan, is more attuned to business owners and the wealthy. Davis, by contrast, said one of his focuses would be assuring "better protections" for working people.

Standard Examiner
By Tim VanDenack
July 21, 2017

Bishop, says Adam Davis, a tech consultant for software companies who's now living in South Jordan, is more attuned to business owners and the wealthy. Davis, by contrast, said one of his focuses would be assuring "better protections" for working people.

"It's not something I expect Rob Bishop to be terribly sympathetic to," Davis, 32, said in a phone interview.

Davis, making his first run for elective office, also cited the importance — by making a third-party bid as a Green Party hopeful — of giving voters options outside the Democratic and Republican parties. He touted the small party's focus on environmental stewardship and said his isn't a symbolic run, though third-party hopefuls typically lag behind mainstream party candidates.

"I think that it's time for us to do something more than symbolic," he said.

Bishop, a Republican from Brigham City up for re-election next year, will be seeking his ninth term. Cathy Callow-Heusser, of Park City, also plans to run as a Republican for the post, which covers Northern Utah, including Weber, Cache and Box Elder counties and the northern half of Davis County.

Davis, who identified as a Democrat before switching to the Green Party last year, actually lives outside the 1st District. His South Jordan home is inside the 4th District, represented by U.S. Rep. Mia Love, he said.

But he said Utah law allows for candidacies by hopefuls who live outside the districts they hope to represent. He's considering a move back to Ogden, but also noted his deep roots in the area — he lived in Weber County until two years ago, when he and his family moved to Salt Lake County for work.

"I still feel more connected to that area than the Salt Lake area," he said in a phone interview, adding that he suspects 1st District voters would take into account his roots in the Ogden area.

Bishop, in response to Davis, said his focus is on the residents of the district, not elections.

"He takes the concerns of his constituents very seriously and is working every day to bring Utah's conservative values to Washington," Andy Pierucci, Bishop's campaign manager, said in an email. Bishop's focuses include Hill Air Force Base, public lands issues and countering federalism "to bring decision-making closer to the people."