Jess Birtcher

Jess Birtcher earned a high school diploma from Olympus High School. He earned a graduate degree from Brigham Young University in 1989. Birtcher's career experience includes working as a certified public accountant.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a resident of Salt Lake County and excited to work on issues and concerns that affect the State of Utah. I am running for office because I am energized about the legislative process and the power of a moderate yet collaborative voice. I am focused on affordability (particularly housing), healthcare transparency and affordability, and education challenges.

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?

Affordability is affecting all families. I am focused on expanding housing supply, streamlined permitting, and responsible growth; I also have as a high priority childcare support and healthcare costs which are very important to constituents in my district. And of course, fuel prices are out of control. We need strong leadership that anticipates and thinks strategically about how our actions as a country impact the global economy.Healthcare costs and transparency. I support policies that go beyond controlling insurance premiums. We need to think about people putting off care because of high deductibles, surprise bills from out-of-network charges, or struggling to find accessible mental health care for their families. We also need to ensure ALL healthcare costs an individual may incur are transparent BEFORE the costs are incurred and reasonable options are provided to the individual.Education. I grew up knowing that education should be available to all and that the more we invest in our education system, the stronger and healthier our society. I support the SAFE bill, cell phone limits, the right to organize by teachers/administrators, and overall support for our awesome public schools support staff.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Housing and cost of living. Education. Healthcare and human services. Environmental stewardship. Labor and unions. Inclusion and representation.