As we have talked about over and over, we are just 12 days away from mid-term elections. We’ve sat down with some great candidates to hear why running for office is important to them and why they have a passion for their community here in Utah. This week was no different. We had the privilege to sit down and talk with Salt Lake City Councilman Derek Kitchen who is running for Senate District 2, and with Sim Gill who is the Salt Lake County District Attorney and running for re-election.

Derek Kitchen always wanted to get out of Utah but as soon as he moved to Salt Lake he found a spark in his love for the city. Derek met his husband, Moudi, and they started selling hummus at the Farmers Market, which you can still find them frequenting and selling at. We highly suggest you try the hummus because it’s the most creamy hummus you’ll ever try! They opened the scrumptious Laziz Kitchen in the Central 9th neighborhood at 9th South and 140 W. It is now part of that growing area of Salt Lake City. You may have heard their names before, that is because a few years ago, Derek and Moudi, were the couple that fought Utah with a lawsuit to clear the way for recognition of gay marriage, and they won! Derek has been serving on the Salt Lake City Council since 2015 and has had his hands in working to improve affordable housing, the homeless situation, and he has most recently been sitting in on the inland port sessions at the legislature. Derek has an outlook on the community as a millennial that the older generation on the hill might look right past and he is excited to be a new, young voice. Derek is empathetic to the community concern about the homeless resource centers opening in neighborhoods around Salt Lake because he has experienced it in his own neighborhood. Derek is definitely ready to continue to serve Salt Lake City and Utah as a Senator!

Sim Gill has been in office for two years at the Salt Lake District Attorney. As an immigrant from India, he reminisced with us the exact moment that he knew he needed to be a DA. Sim defined his role as a DA for us, as a temporary caretaker with extra responsibilities. He reminded us what citizenship is and ways to be involved which may not always mean running for office. Sim believes that small acts of kindness define citizenship as well. Participatory democracy is a word that Sim used over and over while chatting with us, but what does it really mean? Is it making sure that we are living up to ideals? Is it an opportunity to have a broad conversation? It is a way to remember that the word “Democrat” and “Republican” just mean “American?” It is selling a message and not an image.

Chris asked Sim what his stance on the death penalty was and they had a fantastic conversation about the responsibility of making that decision and if it even should still be enacted. Sim shared with us the story of Doug and Ashley that showed him that we need to have Prop 2 passed for medical marijuana. He is the only DA to vocally back this prop.

The conversation with Derek and our conversation with Sim turned into more than just political talk, although we did give them a moment to talk about their platforms. Even if you aren’t in their districts to vote for them, or you don’t want to vote for them. We do hope that you take a moment to listen to why they feel it’s important to serve the community and how excited both are for growth and change in Utah.

We hope to continue a conversation with both of them on our show in the future.

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