Tracy Miller

Tracy Miller was born in California. She earned a bachelor's degree from Utah State University in 1992 and a graduate degree from Brigham Young University in 1994.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am the proud mother of three children and have been married to my husband, Mike, for 30 years. I have a longstanding record of volunteer service and community involvement.

I am currently serving my first term representing District 45 in the Utah House of Representatives. I previously served on the Jordan Board of Education for eight years including four years as President. I have worked to ensure government is efficient, transparent and focused on serving the people. I am known for being a positive, consistent voice of reason for our community.

I received my Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management with a Minor in Economics from Utah State University. I earned my Master's in Organizational Behavior from Brigham Young University.

My focus is good policy - not politics. I would be honored to continue serving you in the Utah House of Representatives.

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 - Families across the state are feeling the effects of inflation, and I am committed to helping Utahns keep more of their hard-earned money. I voted to cut income taxes and expand the Social Security and child tax credits. As a school board member, I opposed a large tax increase while promoting efficient use of taxpayer dollars. I will continue to support responsible budgeting that keeps taxes low while investing in our community’s future.Strong Families - I have advocated for the well-being of children and families through my years of volunteer work and public service. I serve on a legislative task force focused on families and sponsored the bill to expand the child tax credit. I will continue to support policies to promote affordable housing, strengthen public safety, and ensure Utah remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.Leading With Integrity - - I believe elected officials are accountable to the people they represent - not to political insiders or special interests. Government works best when decisions are made openly, with meaningful public input and clear accountability. I am committed to listening to the people I serve and leading with integrity.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education

I believe every child deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for the future. I support our hard-working teachers and believe the best innovation comes from engaged teachers, principals, and parents, not from micromanagement at the state and federal levels.

Great Salt Lake

I recognize the ecological and economic importance of the Great Salt Lake and its wetlands. I support water conservation, innovation and management practices that balance the needs of agriculture and industry and prioritizes saving the Great Salt Lake.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Tracy Miller has lived in South Jordan for the past 17 years. She is the proud mother of three children and has been married to her husband, Mike, for 27 years. She loves her community and is grateful for the opportunities she's had to serve and volunteer. She received her Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management with a Minor in Economics from Utah State University. Tracy also earned her Master's in Organizational Behavior from Brigham Young University.

Tracy has served on the Jordan Board of Education for the past seven years. She is currently serving her second term as President. She also serves on the Jordan Education Foundation Board of Directors as well as the Utah School Boards Association Joint Legislative Committee. Tracy is the recipient of the Utah PTA Friend of Children Award and the Boy Scouts of America District Award of Merit.

Tracy has a track record of being a positive, consistent voice of reason for our community. She asks the hard questions, listens intently, and collaborates with others on solutions. Her focus is good policy - not politics. Tracy would be honored to serve you in the Utah House of Representatives. Learn more at TracyForUtah.com.

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?

Local Control

Local government is in the best position to understand and respond to our community's needs. We know better than those in DC how to use our local lands and how best to govern. We have seen the bureaucracy grow out of control in DC, and we can’t let that happen within our State government. I will support policies to promote local control and allow our cities and school districts to respond to the needs of their communities.Fiscal Responsibility

I believe strongly in limited government and ensuring efficient and responsible use of tax dollars. On the Jordan Board of Education, I voted against the District's large tax increase, kept administrative costs low, and advocated for better use of facilities while serving on the school board. I am concerned with government bureaucracies growing at the state level. I will continue to fight against big government and inefficiencies that lead to higher taxes.Strong Families

I have advocated for the well-being of children and families through my years of volunteer work and public service. I will support policies that strengthen families, protect children, and ensure Utah remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

High Quality Education

I'm the mother of three children who graduated from public schools. I believe every child deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for the future. I am a strong supporter of public schools, and I recognize the importance of parental involvement. I support our hard-working teachers and believe the best innovation comes from engaged teachers, principals, and parents, not from micromanagement at the state and federal levels.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My parents were incredible examples to me of service and involvement in the community. They taught me the importance of giving back.

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

We need leaders who will listen to both sides of an issue and collaborate with others to find solutions. It’s important to have leaders who treat others with dignity and respect, who are thoughtful and able to have productive conversations. I have a track record of being a positive, consistent voice of reason for our community. I ask the hard questions, listen intently, and collaborate with others on solutions. My focus is good policy - not politics.

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

The core responsibility to represent the people. This involves good communication and being open and accessible to people in the community.

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

Yes! I’ve seen too many bills with good intentions that don’t actually solve the problem the legislator is trying to solve. Legislators with local government experience have the knowledge and understanding of how things work at the local level and how to get things done.

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

It’s crucial to build positive working relationships with other legislators and community leaders. We create better laws when we bring in multiple perspectives and work together. I have served on various committees, boards and task forces through the years and have built a good working relationship with many of our legislators and state and local leaders.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proven leader who cares deeply about public education, our kids and our teachers. I'm the mother of three kids who attend or have graduated from Jordan District schools. I have spent years volunteering in the classroom, and serving on School Community Councils, PTA Boards and other statewide education committees. I believe a strong public education system is vital to out economy, democracy and future. I have been a long time advocate for getting more parents involved with their children's education. I support our teachers. They should be treated as professionals and given the support and resources they need so they can focus on teaching.

I am honored to represent you as a current member of the Jordan School Board. I have a track record of bringing people together to solve problems in a respectful and civil manner. I am a positive, consistent voice of reason for our community.

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?

My primary focus is student success. All students should have the opportunity to learn and succeed in a safe and positive environment. I support innovate solutions for personalized learning.I support our teachers. We need to retain our great teachers and attract high quality teachers to the profession. I have consistently voted for increased compensation, more prep time, and additional resources to support our teachers.I am fiscally responsible. I voted against the recent Jordan District tax increase because it was too high. I have supported modest increases in the past. I will continue to find ways to better compensate our teachers and support employees while making careful decisions regarding taxpayer dollars.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about public education! I have spent the past decade helping our schools in various capacities. Prior to serving on the school board I spent a lot of time advocating at the state capitol for parent voice on School Community Councils. I was instrumental in getting a constitutional amendment passed that has resulted in increased funding for our schools through the School Land Trust program.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my parents. My dad was a social worker and my mom stayed home to raise 6 kids. We didn't have a lot of money growing up, but they gave me every opportunity to chase my dreams. They instilled in me the importance of an education. All 6 kids have college degrees and 3 of us have advanced degrees. They are great examples of faith, hard work and community service.

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

Elected officials need to listen. They need to work well with others. They need to understand policy and how it affects student learning. They need to be transparent.

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

I am analytical and think through many facets of an issue. I am calm, reasonable and professional. I have earned the respect of many community members and leaders. I am fiscally responsible and careful with money. I have the expertise and experience to make needed changes.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The primary job of a school board member is to represent the community and the taxpayers. The school board establishes the vision for the district, approves all policies, and sets the budget.

Who are your constituents?

My constituents are everyone who lives in the boundaries of precinct 3 of Jordan School District. I make decisions representing the whole district so my constituents also include everyone living in the Jordan District boundaries. These include parents, grandparents, teachers, school employees, taxpayers, government leaders and everyone who pays taxes and is impacted by public education.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

I listen to all points of view and am effective at bringing people together to collaborate and solve problems.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I have spent years building relationships within our community and am effective as a policy maker because of those relationships. I am supported and respected by parents, teachers, administrators, state legislators, city council members and many other stakeholders in public education.

Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?

The district's minority enrollment is about 30%. We need more teachers, staff and administrators that reflect our student population. I support efforts to recruit applicants with the aim of increasing diversity. The best qualified applicant should always be selected.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

I have spent the past decade lobbying the legislature for increased funding for our schools. I believe there needs to be an inflationary factor built into local property taxes. The state should also consider allowing schools districts to levy impact fees, or at the very least not have to pay impact fees. I have also advocated for TSSA funds that are distributed to each school.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

The school district should work closely with local law enforcement and school safety experts to determine the safety measures that will be the most effective in keeping our kids safe. Under my leadership on the school board, the Jordan District has changed the entrance to every school making a single point access through the front office. We have also changed all doors to digital card access. We have installed bullet resistant glass in windows, added security cameras, installed trauma response kits in each classroom, and increased the number of School Resource Officers in our schools.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

When I started on the board the suicide rate in our district was the highest in the state and receiving national attention. We took deliberate action because any life lost to suicide is one too many. To better support mental health needs we hired additional counselors, social workers and psychologists. We created a wellness department to help during times of crisis, provide classes and other support. With the support of our foundation, we are placing wellness rooms in each school. Teachers and staff wellness has also been a focus. The outcome of our deliberate efforts has been remarkable.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?

I spend many hours listening to concerns of parents and responding to email and phone messages. I encourage parents to get involved in their children's education and develop supportive relationships with teachers. I am a proponent of parent voice on School Community Councils and have recently supported the creation of a District-wide parent advisory committee.