Saturday, October 29, 2011

Fred Cox Town Hall Meetings November 2011

Fred Cox, Utah House of Representatives, Town Hall
Rep. Carl Wimmer, a Candidate for the 4th Congressional District,
is co-sponsoring the event.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Hunter Library
4740 West 4100 South
West Valley City, Utah 84120


http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194176160656652
______________________________________________

Fred Cox, Utah House of Representatives Town Hall

Thursday, November 3, 2011 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Hunter Library
4740 West 4100 South
West Valley City, Utah 84120

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167020786725488

______________________________________________

Fred Cox, Utah House of Representatives has also invited
Mia Love, Mayor of Saratoga Springs, who has formed a
congressional exploratory committee for the 4th Congressional District

Thursday, November 10, 2011 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Hunter Library
4740 West 4100 South
West Valley City, Utah 84120

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131672043603571

______________________________________________

When faced with tough choices, it is easy to criticize, while those we delegate the responsibility to, make the best choice they can with the information they have.

If we don't tell them what we are thinking, how will they know?

Help Rep. Fred Cox make the best choices by sharing your ideas and insight.

Utah State House District 32 is being combined with District 29 for the 2012 election as a new District 30. It will be a House District that will be split 60% / 40% between the 2nd and 4th Congressional District and candidates from both congressional districts will be coming in future events.

http://www.fredcox4utah.com/
http://www.fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/fredcox4utah
http://www.facebook.com/fred.c.cox (personal profile)
http://www.facebook.com/fredcox4utah (public page)

Monday, October 24, 2011

Fred C Cox a member of the Utah House of Representatives

Conservative Republican, Utah Architect. Utah House of Representatives District 32
Economy, Fiscal Responsibility, Energy Independence, Education Excellence

Utah is the Best fiscally managed State. We need to continue to improve. The Economy will grow when Government will allow it. In many cases Government is holding business growth back.

Education can, will and must improve, but sending more money isn't always the answer.

As a taxpayer, I see the money spent on buildings and will continue to advocate an improved balance between cost savings and quality to the process.

I would hope we can reduce costs while still maintaining the quality and also increase the value and number or size of projects.

We need more consensus building and less compromise. If we focus on what we agree on, we can accomplish the most good. We may not agree with each other on all issues.

By being active in politics, we can influence what happens around us.

One of the areas I have been active in is media, including Social Media. In politics, I have been an online media rapid response moderator and/or responder, along with managing several Facebook groups and pages, and using Twitter to promote news to a wider audience.

Be involved. Be a voter. Public Officials can't know what you are thinking if you don't tell them.

The best way to contact me is to write via email.

Official Government and Constituent Email:
fredcox@utah.gov

Campaign Related Email:
fred@fredcox4utah.com

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Print Media articles about Representative Fred Cox

Print Media:

Combining House Districts 29 and 32 for 2012 elections:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52701539-90/district-fisher-democrats-republicans.html.csp

Redistricting:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52746805-90/democrats-safe-democratic-district.html.csp

I still say the hat and 3 stripes map would have left the 2nd district a coin toss as far as the map went. It is up to the voters to decide.

It was not designed to protect Rep. Matheson's seat. It isn't his "seat" anyway.

It was designed to divide the state in 4 down to the last person keeping as many cities and counties together as possible.

It didn't have the votes. Even the bipartisan version, which was the only bipartisan sponsored Utah Congressional map. Any map had to pass both houses and only one map pulled that off after weeks, if not months.

The map that did pass both houses with a 2/3 vote each, other that a little balancing in Kaysville, Kearns and Millcreek, the other cities that were split are along main roads, and almost always major roads like I-15.

I like this complement from:
David Edward Garber Thank you, Representative Cox, for your diligent efforts on this task, not only in creating and promoting your own good proposal, but in improving everyone else's, as well. Facebook October 18 at 10:38am


Selected and appointed to fill the term of Ron Bigelow:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51001951-76/cox-bigelow-delegates-district.html.csp
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=13913793

Protecting Utah Lands:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51121753-76/bill-cox-federal-lands.html.csp

The state answer to immigration:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/51917989-82/469-immigration-116-federal.html.csp

Biographical Information

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY SERVICE
• Utah State House of Representatives, District 32, January 2011 to present.
• Utah Republican State Central Committee 2011.
• Utah Republican State Delegate 2002-2003, 2005-2011.
• Salt Lake County Republican House District 32 Chair, August 2010 to January 2011.
• ChamberWest Regional Chamber of Commerce Government Action Committee, Nov. 2010 to present
• AIA Utah, Government Affairs Committee, January 2008 to 2010.
Assisting with tracking, suggesting, and coordination of bills and regulations affecting the practice of architecture.

• Campaign Volunteer and/or Consultant for the following:
Ron Bigelow, Utah House of Representatives, 1994 to 2011.
Jason Chaffetz, U.S. House of Representatives, Utah 3rd District, May 2008 to 2011.
Kevin Fayles, Candidate for Mayor, West Valley City, UT, 2009.
Dave Hansen, Utah State Republican Party Chair, March 2009 to June 2009.
Cherilyn Eagar, 2010 US Senate Race, May 2009 to May 2010,
Tim Bridgewater, 2010 US Senate Race, May and June 2010.
Morgan Philpot, 2010 U.S. House of Representatives, Utah 2nd District, June 2010 to November 2010.
Daniel W. Thatcher, 2010 Utah State Senate, District 12, August 2010 to November 2010

• Church Based community service

LICENSES AND AFFILIATIONS
• Licensed Utah Architect since 1991
• Licensed Idaho Architect since 2008
• Licensed Oklahoma Architect since 2011
• Licensed Wyoming Architect since 2011
• Member of the American Institute of Architects since 1991
• Member of ChamberWest since 2007

Sunday, October 16, 2011

6 Utah Congressional Map Comparison

I am hoping this would be helpful comparing 6 maps being discussed. I would hope it can be passed out in the public caucus meeting. The data comes from the public redistricting software on the public side. It is population numbers.

http://www.fredcox4utah.com/SB3002-6%20options.pdf


The chart is designed for 11x17 black and white.

The Garber/King map numbers are confusing because they are calling the east part of Salt Lake County district 3, the south part of the state including Alpine and much of Utah county 4, and the west part of Salt Lake Valley district 2. That is also for the 12th Substitute map online. I have not been able to confirm that it has been "corrected" as not all the bill information for Substitute 12 is online.

The population data is generated by the public software and I have compiled the 6 maps into one file. The totals are just text.

For those complaining about not having enough people in the 2nd congressional district from Davis County (to give them a voice), this gives a comparison, again taking to account 2 and 4 are swapped for the Garber King map. The spreadsheet shows the files actual numbering. It would be easier to compare if the district numbers for Garber King map were changed.

Davis County 2nd district
SB 3002 57,432
Sumsion 15 57,432
Sumsion 16 57,432
McAdamsCox 69,623
FroererAdams 109,686

GarberKing None if you compare apples to apples.
21,108 goes to the west part of Salt Lake Valley district.

The maps are at:
http://www.redistrictutah.com/category/maps/us-congress

For a list of Congressional maps I have been involved in see:
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2011/10/utah-redistricting-congress.html

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Utah Redistricting - Congress

update: See http://elections.utah.gov/map/district-maps

I have been asked what congressional map proposals do I have out there and why?

I had one of the 1st maps submitted to the redistricting committee with the new software, and in fact it was a map I started last November and December in 2010. It was presented in a public hearing in June and selected as one of the top 6 maps by the committee in September.

The stated motive for drawing the "Hat and 3 Stripes" map was to have equal US Census population and keep as many counties and cities together as possible. (Not splitting them).

The map was NOT designed to balance republican or democrat ratios. The redistricting map software doesn't provide that information, nor was that my goal. I didn't want a map to decide who won the elections. That should be up to the voters.

Versions of that map is on the Redistricting website, include:

http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/u-s-congressional-6-finalists/congress-rep-cox-%E2%80%9Cplan-e%E2%80%9D-hat-and-3-stripes

On Tuesday, October 4th, when it became obvious that we didn't have agreement on a map, I "pulled a bill file" for this map which is:

http://le.utah.gov/~2011S3/bills/sbillint/sb3002s06.pdf
with the map at:
http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/sb3002s06

I have two public variations of this "hat and 3 stripes" map at:

One that splits Utah County as all the maps that didn't had disappeared off the radar
http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-repcox-hat-and-3-stripes-modified

One that puts more of Southern Utah together.
http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-cox-congressional-map-z

The end of September, when the redistricting committee picked a map, I created this minor modification after working with some from Utah County.

http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-cox-version-of-sumsion_06-modified-a


After the last redistricting meeting where it appeared that the map the senate passed may be the only option the senate would agree to, which is based on the Sumsion 6 modified A

I pulled this map as a bill file:

http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/sb3002s11

The bill is at:

http://le.utah.gov/~2011S3/bills/sbillint/sb3002s11.pdf


Speaker Lockhart has proposed a modification of the Sumsion 6 modified A. This has some of the same modifications I made of the senate passed map for her proposed map.

http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-cox-lockhart-5-modified


I recently found this map submitted by the public that I was impressed with. It only divided one county of the state.

http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-plaizier-fair-4-utah

My modifications of it to reduce the number of cities split:
http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-cox-fair-4-utah-leonard-s-plazier-rep-cox-modified

At this time, the two most likely maps, If I do nothing are:
http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/us-congress/sumsion_15
and
http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-rep-sumsion-sumsion_16


I am currently working on a map with Sen. Ben McAdams.

http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-senator-mcadams-and-rep-cox-modification-of-hat-and-3-stripes

I hope to have one that is the best ready for release by Oct. 14th and available for public hearing on Oct. 17th if the map is very different from one that has had a public hearing.

For some real facts on Utah's Redistricting from our Lt. Governor
http://utahpulse.com/bookmark/16045628-Redistricting-A-Few-Facts-A-Few-Opinions-

Monday, October 3, 2011

Redistricting has Been Kind to Democrats...So Far

Redistricting has Been Kind to Democrats...So Far

Copy of now archived article from 9/16/11 at:
http://www.utahpolicy.com/featured_article/redistricting-has-been-kind-democratsso-far

By Bob Bernick, UtahPolicy.com Contributing Editor

If you had shown me last spring the redistricting maps of the Utah House and Senate unanimously adopted this week by the Legislature’s Redistricting Committee, I would have been more than a little surprised.

Why?

Because the majority Republicans did not treat the minority Democrats too badly.

In fact, depending on possible election outcomes in 2012 (assuming these maps are ultimately approved by the Legislature in an early October special session), Democrats could come out OK in the redistricting process.

And that is exactly why I’m thinking these maps won’t be the final boundaries for the 75-member House and 29-member Senate for the next 10 years.

The Senate map has a better chance of passage than does the House map, I admit.

That’s because the Senate redistricting combines no GOP incumbent senators.

Yes, it’s ugly boundaries for Tooele County.

But instead of the having the county split into four Senate districts, as is now the case, it would be split into two.

Still, it’s unlikely a Tooele candidate could win a Senate seat – the county has about one-third of the population base for both of the proposed districts, thus making it unlikely a county politician could win or hold one of the new seats.

And, yes, the map is draw to protect Senate Majority Assistant Whip Pete Knudson, R-Brigham City. But the map is also drawn to protect other GOP incumbents, as well.

Two Democrats are drawn into the same district – Senate Minority Leader Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake, and former minority leader Pat Jones, D-Holladay.

But, to be fair, the Salt Lake City/east side Salt Lake County Senate seats held by Democrats didn’t grow in population over the last 10 years as fast as other parts of the county.

So it is only right that two Democrats be put together.

And Romero is running for Salt Lake County mayor next year, so Democrats won’t see a battle of two incumbents.

The House is a very different matter.

Republicans on the Redistricting Committee – which includes Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo – approved a plan that put 10 incumbents into five combined districts.

Three Democrats and seven Republicans would face an incumbent if they run in 2012 and the map stands.

Two Democrats are combined: House Minority Leader David Litvack and newcomer Brian Doughty, both D-Salt Lake.

Rep. Janice Fisher, a Democrat, and Rep. Fred Cox, a Republican, both from West Valley City, are combined.

And in the most controversial suggestion, six GOP incumbents are combined: Rep. Brad Galvez, R-West Haven, and Rep. Jeremy Peterson, R-Ogden; Reps. Todd Kiser and LaVar Christensen, both R-Sandy; and Reps. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, and Chris Herrod, R-Provo.

Now, there are 58 House Republicans. It’s tough to draw a map with such a super-majority that wouldn’t combine at least a few GOP incumbents.

It’s especially difficult if you compartmentalize various geographic areas of the state and say House districts won’t be allowed to significantly encroach into surrounding areas.

For example, since the numbers so perfectly match up, Salt Lake County was basically kept whole, as was Utah County. Northern Utah fit well together, so did Washington and Iron counties.

But politically speaking, Utah County is really a tough sell as drawn today.

First off, the county is all Republican – no Democratic House members at all. So you can’t combine two Democrats in Utah County.

Secondly, while Lockhart may have voted for the map in committee, her caucus stand may be different. How does she tell her Utah County colleagues – most if not all of whom supported her in the speaker’s race where she won by one vote – that two arch-conservatives must be combined when, because of growth in parts of the county, there will be three open House seats created?

Why can’t the Utah County map be drawn that would give all incumbents their own districts and have only two open new seats?

Trust me, Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, the House chair of the committee, has tried time and again to draw a Utah County map that makes some sense and doesn’t combine any incumbents.

Sumsion said that in the map approved last week “one of my best friends” in the House is combined with “another friend” – and Sumsion is not happy about it at all.

But that’s just the way the numbers and population shifts make sense, he said.

Members of the 58-strong House GOP caucus may define “makes sense” very differently.

Still, when there is political blood in the water, it can become every man for himself.

And to draw lines that protect Sandstrom and Herrod could mean that other incumbents end up in a district with mostly new constituents – and the loss of the geographic power base that put them in office.

What good does it do Utah County incumbent House members to save Sandstrom and/or Herrod if they, in turn, are challenged by a LDS bishop, city mayor or councilman or business leader from their new area who can knock them out in the GOP county convention or primary?

Wheels within wheels, hard choices all around.

You can see the new Senate and House redistricting maps at: www.redistrictutah.com.

Take a look. You may not know where your current incumbent lives (hey, you may not know who your current incumbent is).

But take a bird’s eye view. Do the new maps make sense to you?

If so – and they make sense to me – you should let your representative and senator know that you like what your see (or don’t).

Personally, I think the majority Republicans have done pretty well by the minority Democrats – given the population shifts and reality of the numbers.

Now we’ll see if the House and Senate GOP caucuses will go along with the maps proposed by the Redistricting Committee (this comment assumes that significant boundary changes aren’t made before the caucuses get a shot at them).

Remember, GOP House and Senate leaders want the redistricting maps to receive overwhelming support in the Legislature come October.

And if they have to draw more lines – and hurt some more Democrats -- to get that, well, don’t be surprised by that outcome, either.