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Jon Hawkins Secures Spot in Republican Primary Election

By: PRLog
Hawkins Used a Volunteer Staff to Collect Signatures to be on the Ballot for Utah House of Representatives District 57
PLEASANT GROVE, Utah - April 5, 2018 - PRLog -- Jon Hawkins, a Republican candidate for the Utah House of Representatives in District 57, successfully qualified for the Primary Election by collecting signatures with a volunteer-only staff. Hawkins' bid to become District 57's next representative took a step forward as he and his team of nearly 50 volunteers collected over 1,500 signatures. Over 1,000 of those signatures were verified and approved by the Utah County Clerk's office, and as a result of meeting that minimum verification threshold Hawkins secured his place on the Republican Primary ballot in this year's election.

Senate Bill 54, known as SB54, allows candidates to be placed on the ballot without going through Utah's caucus and convention system by collecting signatures of registered voters. SB54 struck a compromise between those who supported the caucus system and those who support an open primary. "When drafting and negotiating SB54, we wanted the threshold of signatures to be high," said Senator Curt Bramble (R-District 16), one of the authors of SB54. "Jon's ability to collect that high threshold of signatures, using only volunteers, demonstrates his abilities to lead, to gain wide support amongst his constituents, and to demonstrate financial responsibility."

Similar to what Governor Gary Herbert (R) and U.S. Representative John Curtis (UT-3) did in their most recent elections, Hawkins still plans to talk with delegates and participate in the convention process.

Many campaigns that choose to collect signatures pay individuals or groups for each signature collected. The Hawkins campaign did not pay for a single signature and estimates that it took between 200 and 250 man hours to gather the necessary signatures. "The only thing we paid for throughout this whole process was the paper for the signatures," said Hawkins. "This proves that anyone who is determined to participate in the important election process can regardless of their economic status."

"Due to Jon's leadership and vision for our district, he was able to rally a host of unpaid volunteers who stepped forward to help make sure he was on the ballot," said Tamara Oborn, a volunteer for Hawkins' campaign. Another campaign volunteer, Debbie Hong stated, "I didn't sacrifice time away from my family to collect signatures for hours because I like collecting signatures, I did it because I believe in Jon." Hawkins' campaign team is comprised of everyday residents with careers, families, and other obligations.

The signature gathering process allowed Hawkins to speak with more voters and engage people in the process who are often left out of the caucus system. "By collecting signatures myself and using volunteers who live in the community, we were able to talk to our neighbors about the issues and values that are important to them," said Hawkins. "With nearly 50 volunteers, the signature collection process became more of a uniting of the community event than just a single candidate running for office. This valuable grass roots process has allowed me to gain a greater appreciation for the people I want to represent. I would like to thank all the volunteers, all those who signed, and all those who are supporting my efforts to take District 57's voice to Capitol Hill."

In addition to currently serving on the Pleasant Grove Planning Commission, Jon Hawkins has experience working with some of the most successful organizations in the world. He knows how to listen to differing opinions and work together to both solve problems and accomplish goals. His plans for District 57 are to apply the practical knowledge and experience he has gained, bring the diverse voices in our community together, and effectively represent the voice of the people he serves. To learn more about Jon Hawkins, important issues, and ways you can support him, please go to www.electjonhawkins.com.

Contact
Jon Hawkins
jon@electjonhawkins.com
(385) 652-0980

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