Cabot Nelson

Cabot Nelson was born in Utah. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah in 1996. His career experience includes working as a consultant.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Lifelong resident of Utah, living in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City for 25 years. Husband and father of two boys in local public schools. I work in financial technology as a compliance consultant and delivery engineer.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Electoral reform: We desperately need to break the two-party duopoly.Permit fusion candidacies. Change ballot counting to ranked choice voting, Condorcet voting, approval voting...anything beside our current first-past-the-post plurality. Other good ideas include proportional representation, multimember districts, or a nonpartisan blanket primary (like California).I'm a proud moderate. If expected to select points of agreement with the two major parties, I would more likely agree with the Democratic Party, but not with the social-justice warrior culture of the extreme left. I cannot stand the shocking extremism of the debased Republican Party and firmly reject Christian Nationalism.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Electoral reform. Inequality. Universal basic income.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Two guiding quotes serve as my beacons:

Personally: “I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.” - Baruch Spinoza

To understand the rot of the Republican Party: “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” - Commentator Frank Wilhoit (not the political scientist)

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, and the ability to communicate and accept complex ideas. Social media performances are abysmal, albeit fun.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm honest and earnest.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Communication and openness, not to be beholden to a donor class or dark money.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I had contributed to our social institutions and made the world a better place.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Our bicentennial, July 4, 1976. I remember the "Spirit of '76" buttons and banners.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Sold hot dogs at Rice Stadium at the U of U. I went from selling drinks, selling hot dogs, then joined the U of U Marching Band.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Geography of Nowhere by J. H. Kuntsler. It's a polemic about our urban settlements. It is a bit dated now, though.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Pebble Beach by Vince Guaraldi

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

A coalition where a majority is not beholden to a single party.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Environment, especially the loss of the Great Salt Lake. We may be at a tipping point with the GSL combined with a potential brain drain due to right-wing policies regarding women's reproductive rights.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Politics and governance require skill and experience. Social media goons are not good at governing.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely! They are not just representing their districts, but the state as a whole.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

No

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No

Tell us your favorite joke.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Yes

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

Non-partisan blanket primary

What committees interest you?

Elections, housing, urban issues

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

We need to protect the public's and press's rights to government records. We need to overturn the Citizen's United court case.

Cabot Nelson did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Cabot Nelson did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.