My name is Sophia Hawes-Tingey and I am running for Midvale City Council District 2
(http://www.sophiahawes.com/).

Since I have been serving on the Midvale Community Council, I have learned that this district is in need. It needs someone who is a little bit more about community, and who is a little bit less about business. It needs a leader who listens, a leader who cares, and a leader who has the resources and willpower to balance the needs of the community with the needs of businesses more fairly.

Midvale is projected to double in size to 60,000 residents and join the ranks of more major cities within the next 10 years. This brings into play some serious challenges, some of which we are already facing. The old slag site was cleaned up and major corporations are moving in, potentially increasing the city's tax base with funds that it won't see for another 20 years. The lack of city funds, partially tied up in UTOPIA, have left the center part of the city untouched in their needs for future maintenance. Center Square, just across from a Trax station has been undeveloped for 15 years since the city started a redevelopment project there in the 1990s, essentially kicking out the old businesses, and never finishing it.

The juxtaposition of new money represented by the corporations with a residential area that has diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, who are struggling in an area that is mostly low income, has led to an increase in crime--crimes of opportunity, and crimes of passion in the area, and mostly young people. There is a large senior residential population on fixed income within the city, a significant part under attack from real estate developers that want to build multi-family residential structures in an area that can't handle it. The roads, gutters, sidewalks, and stormdrains in some areas are in desperate need of maintenance. Companies want to offer more part time jobs than full time jobs. The traffic levels have been increasing steadily toward the Shops at Fort Union, increasing the noise and carbon footprint in a time when we need to be reducing it. In addition, there are not enough safe pedestrian crossing points or bicycle lanes.

These are the challenges that Midvale City is facing. The community as well as the city needs an advocate with experience, connections, and influence to work toward tackling these problems.

I am a Navy veteran and a career software engineer. I tackle problems and challenges on a daily basis as part of my job. I have also spent the last four years fighting for people's right to be who they are and love who they love. I have fought for marriage equality, and fairness in housing and employment. I am fighting for families and communities.

I have a vision:

- Safe and secure neighborhoods,
- Our marginalized communities protected, and all our cultural roots honored,
- Ecological stewardship and social responsibility encouraged from the individual to the corporation.

I am counting on your support, your endorsements, and your vote.

In love and service to our communities,
Sophia Hawes-Tingey