Campaign Finance Disclosure - Feb 15 - 21

Thanks to those District 19 supporters who have contributed to my campaign to date.  If you support my campaign to preserve solid conservative values, promote economic and educational development, and protect individual and business rights, I invite you to make a donation to this critical effort.  As a reminder, you can contribute easily and securely on line by logging onto www.votejohnpitt.com.  You can also track every penny of my campaign contributions and expenses by watching for postings like this which will appear each week on my blog.  

Here are the income and expenses for the past week:

Income
Date                 Source                        Amount        Purpose   
Feb 15-21        Individual Donors     $425.00       Contributions 


Accumulative Total                        $2650.00
              
Expense
Date                 Source                       Amount          Purpose        
Feb 18              US Postal Service         $15.84           Stamps
Feb. 20             Send Out Cards          $233.47           Printing/Mailing

Accumulative Total                         $2104.73

Thanks for your support, 

John Pitt 
Candidate 
District 19 Representative

Position Statement #3 - Economic Development: Decades of Proven Leadership

Dear Friends  and Neighbors,

Economic Development is key to the success of any community.  As a result, the drive for local economic growth is at the top of my civic priority list...and it has been for decades.  My commitment to create, sustain, and strengthen business in District 19 did not surface with my decision to run for the Utah House of Representatives.  It started when I was just a kid.

Economic Development Experience

My father was a local merchant and the president of the Bountiful Downtown Merchants Association. I helped at the family business from the time I could hold a broom until I was old enough to manage the store myself.  Throughout that time I developed valued friendships with other local merchants and their families.  I worked to build their businesses as well because I knew that our family's success depended on Main Street's success. I also learned that Main Street's success depended on the overall community's success....a high tide floats all boats. 

"Buy It In Bountiful" was the first program I implemented when I was elected to the Bountiful City Council in 1999.  I was the City liaison to the Bountiful Historic Main Street Association until I stepped down from the Council in 2007 to become President and CEO of the Davis Chamber of Commerce.  I promoted business advancement throughout Davis County while serving on multiple development related boards and committees.  I am now Project Director for the Bonneville Companies.   I am a member of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, the Davis Unified Economic Development committee, and Davis and Salt Lake Chambers of Commerce.

If elected to the Utah House of Representatives, I will continue working tirelessly to expand existing business, develop new local business, and attract outside business to Utah. I will adamantly support public/private partnerships that can deliver a strong, positive return on the tax dollars needed to get them up and running.  A great example of the kind of program I will support is the Utah Procurement Team.  This public/private partnership helps local employers win lucrative contracts that bring additional jobs and dollars to Utah.  So far the Utah Procurement Team has brought  in $152 for every $1 in tax revenue they received. That is one more reason that Utah is the best managed state in the Union.  EDCUtah is another great program that I believe it pays to support.

There are other development programs and policies that need to be considered and implemented if profitable for Utah tax payers.  I will vigorously seek out and/or create those initiatives as your Representative. 

There are three ways to ensure that Utah's budget remains balanced: 1) cut services, 2) raise taxes,  and/or 3) increase revenues.  Clearly #3 is the preferred method.  Economic Development is the best way to increase that revenue and decrease individual and business tax burdens. You have the opportunity to elect a Utah House candidate who has unsurpassed experience in attracting, building, and promoting business.  I am pleased to be that candidate.  I am eager to put my Economic Development experience to work for you on Capitol Hill.    

Thank you for your support,

John Pitt

Campaign Finance Disclosure Report #1

 Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As I promised in my earlier statement on my own campaign finance standards, I am posting below the first weekly report on this campaign's income and expenses.  I'll be the first to admit, it is a bit underwhelming,..for now...but that's okay.  I did not base my decision to run for the Utah House of Representatives on initial fund raising efforts.  I based it entirely on my desire to continue to represent you, the people of Bountiful...and on the support you have shown those efforts in the past.

Having made the decision to run for District 19 Representative based on what I can contribute to the office, I am now in the process of raising enough money to run an effective, winning campaign.  Letters requesting your endorsement and support for my campaign are in the mail right now.  I have also provided an easy and secure way for you to donate to this campaign on-line.  Just go to www.votejohnpitt.com and click on the Donate button. You'll be directed from there.

Since I have already made it clear that my campaign will not accept single-donor contributions larger than $500 or special interest contributions of any size, your donations of  $25, $50, or $100 will be greatly appreciated. And they will be used judiciously...in fact, you can track every penny I spend right here as I continue to voluntarily disclose my campaign finances every week throughout the campaign. That is my commitment to campaign finance reform and increased campaign disclosure.

Thank you for your early support and please watch this spot as the campaign takes off.  

John Pitt for Utah House of Representatives Campaign Finance Report #1

Income
Date	Source	Amount	Purpose
Dec. 28	Start-up/personal acct.	2,000.00	Initial expense
Jan 15-31	Individual contributors	125.00	Donations
Feb 1-15	Individual contributors	100.00	Donations
Total		2,225.00
Expenses
Date	Recipient	Amount	Purpose
Dec. 29	Forth Gear	1,642.50	Stationery,web
Jan. 16	US Postal Service	44.00	Stamps
Feb. 8	FedEx	95.94	Printing
Feb. 8	Smiths Marketplace	7.21	Envelopes
Feb. 8	Smiths Marketplace	34.09	Ink cartridges
Feb. 8	US Postal Service	47.52	Stamps
Total		1,871.26

Position Statement #2 - Length of Service

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

My friend Todd Weiler posted a great question on Facebook today.  He asked,

"How long is 'long enough' for one person to serve in the Utah Legislature?"

I hadn't intended the term limitations debate to be the topic of my second position statement, but since I think it is important to clarify my own campaign terms and conditions right up front, I've decided to comment on that subject right now.  Here is my response to Todd's question:

___________

Okay Todd, your question is too good to pass up a chance for a little campaigning. Sorry, but 'tis the season...already. I think citizens should be allowed to vote-in or vote-out who they want, when they want. I oppose mandated term limits. HOWEVER, I think citizens and governments are better served with reasonable turn-over of elected officials. 

When I ran for Bountiful City Council I made it clear that I would not hold the office for more than 8 years. I actually served for 7 years (I stepped down my last year to lead the Davis Chamber). Likewise, if I am elected as District 19 Representative and remain the favored candidate, I will not serve in that office for more than 8 years (4 terms). I think that is long enough to be truly effective, but not long enough to become an entrenched bureaucrat. 

So, as with the ethics debate, I've made my standards and self-imposed checks and balances clear. I trust the people of District 19 will vote for the candidate whose standards of ethics and length of service most closely match their own. Thanks Todd for raising the question. I'm interested to know what you and others think.  

__________________________________

So there you go.  As I said, I am interested to know what you think.

Also, please check out www.votejohnpitt.com.  It has a link to my Facebook page and, oh yes, a safe and secure DONATE button.  There are at least 4 candidates for the District 19 seat, so I would certainly appreciate your ideological and financial support for this already vigorous campaign. 

Thanks for your support,  John Pitt

 

Postition Statement #1 - Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform

To the Citizens of Utah House District 19

I firmly believe campaign finance practices and legislative ethics standards need to be reformed in Utah. I am not alone. Recent opinion polling shows that most Utahns favor the formulation of an independent legislative ethics commission and limitations on contributions to legislative candidates*.

Recent court rulings and pending legislative actions are not likely to resolve these issues quickly or completely. So what are you, the Utah voter, to do in the meantime? The answer is simple. Vote for the candidates who have clearly stated ethical standards and campaign policies that match your expectations... then hold them accountable.

To that end, I present my ethical standards and campaign finance policies for your review.

I pledge to conduct my campaign for District 19 Representative honestly, openly, positively, and with full and frequent disclosure of income and expenses, as outlined below:

I welcome contributions to my campaign from supportive individuals and businesses, however, I WILL NOT accept campaign donations from any single individual or business of more than $500 for each of the Primary and General elections.

I WILL NOT accept campaign donations or gifts, with the exception of reasonably priced meals ($25 or less), from any political action committee, union, lobbyist, or from the campaign fund of any current elected official or other political candidate.

I WILL NOT use campaign funds to pay for any non-campaign related personal or business expenses.

I WILL publicly post all of my campaign income and expenses on a weekly basis throughout the full campaign cycle. The first weekly post will appear on www.votejohnpitt.com on February 15th.

If elected:
I WILL serve the people of District 19 with the same standard of complete integrity, accountability, and dedication that will guide my campaign and that has been at the heart of my public service for the past decade and beyond.

I WILL NOT offer any of my campaign funds to other legislators.

I WILL NOT profit personally or professionally from my service beyond the legally approved compensation and reimbursement allowances for Utah legislators. I WILL NOT serve as a paid lobbyist for any organization while I serve as a legislator, or for at least one year following my service.

As a citizen legislator with a full-time occupation beyond public service, I WILL disclose any conflict of interest that may emerge between pending legislation and my professional and personal interests.

The primary motivation for the votes I cast will be to represent the will and the best interests of the people of District 19. I WILL promote and protect their interests to the best of my ability, in accordance with the US and Utah Constitutions and all applicable laws and standards.


Some people have said these practices and policies will severely restrict my ability to raise money for this campaign. Perhaps, but I am willing to take that risk because I firmly believe in the principles they represent. I believe my campaign support should come primarily from you, the people of District 19. I believe that support will come as I show my resolve to continue to serve you well.

While the debate ebbs and flows elsewhere, District 19 can be the epicenter of ethics and campaign finance reform by electing a candidate who has stated his positions clearly and voluntarily and who will stand by them through Election Day and beyond. I am pleased to be that candidate.

Thank you for your support. I look forward to representing you.


John S. Pitt

Please watch the John Pitt for Utah House Facebook page and my website
www.votejohnpitt.com for forthcoming statements about my positions on other issues important to District 19.
*Deseret News/KSL-TV poll January 17, 2010
Content approved by the Committee to Elect John Pitt

Hat in the Ring

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am pleased to tell you that I am seeking the Republican nomination to the Utah House of Representatives from District 19. I firmly believe I have the experience, the commitment, the values, the positions, and the goals to be the best possible representative for the people of District 19. I look forward to an honorable and exciting campaign.

I will bring to the Republican ticket a wealth of proven leadership experience and a long record of dedicated public service to the citizens of Bountiful and Woods Cross, including:

Previous Professional/Elected Positions
President and CEO of the Davis Chamber of Commerce – 2.5 years
Member of the Bountiful City Council – 7 years
Advisor to the Bountiful City Youth Council - 7 years
Media Specialist for US Senate Republican Conference (Washington, DC) - 6 years

Current Volunteer/Appointed Positions
County and State Republican Delegate
Bountiful Davis Arts Center Board
Davis Chamber Legislative and Transportation Committees
Davis Education Foundation Board
Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation Center Advisory Committee

I will provide much more information about my specific interests, qualifications, opinions, and objectives in the coming days. In the meantime, you can be assured that my goals are to preserve solid conservative values, promote economic and educational development, and protect individual and business rights. For now I simply want to let you know of my intentions and ask for your support. You can learn more on John Pitt for Utah House on Facebook and coming soon at www.votejohnpitt.com

Thanks for your consideration - JSP

Content approved by Campaign to Elect John Pitt