CACHE COUNTY – Not content to just symbolically protest what they call “… the billionaire takeover of America” in Washington, the “We The People of Cache Valley” organization is now becoming involved in local politics.
During their recent anti-Trump rally in downtown Logan, the activist group also encouraged local residents to “Run For Something” in the upcoming municipal elections throughout Cache County.
Protest organizer Jim Evans says that each of the 19 communities in Cache County will elect a mayor in those upcoming municipal elections. Each of those towns will also elect two members of their city councils, with the exception of Clarkston, which will four council members, and Trenton, that will elect only one.
Counting both mayors and council members, that amounts to nearly 60 elective positions up for grabs in the Nov. 4 balloting. But Evans laments that many of those races will spark little interest.
“I think Clarkston had no one run for mayor in 2023,” he observes. “I think it is possible that the low number of candidates is due in part to the very early deadline to declare as a candidate.”
Here in Utah, hopeful candidates must declare their intention to run for office with their respective city recorders between Monday, June 2 and Friday, June 6.
“In contrast,” he explained, “Idaho has a filing deadline September, so I’m hoping that getting the word out early might help.”
During their “Run For Something” event on May 3, the “We The People of Cache Valley” group distributed information on the filing deadlines and mayoral/city council seats pending in the upcoming municipal elections.
They also encouraged the development of communities to address critical Cache Valley issues; distributed information about Planned Parenthood tele-health clinics planned for Cache Valley; disseminated ways to contact state and federal lawmakers; and promoted local environmental groups like the Citizen Climate Lobby.
The May 3 rally here was part of a monthly National Day of Action with more than a 1,000 protests associated with May Day planned by local organizations across the nation.
As speakers, protest organizers brought together representatives of local groups that have already been impacted by or are concerned about potential spending cuts imposed by the Trump administration, including the Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC); the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah (which has already closed its Logan clinic); and the Sunshine Terrace Foundation (which is also concerned about possible cuts to Medicaid).
Those May Day protests were organized by the 50501 Movement, a grassroots initiative born on social media that represents 50 protests, 50 states and one day by urging citizen to take part in nonviolent marches, rallies, protests and walk-ins.
Although the upcoming municipal balloting are considered to be a non-partisan elections, Evans and other members of “We The People of Cache Valley” are obviously hoping that residents who share their liberal mindset will turn out to file as candidates in local communities.
“I’ve got no conflict of interest here,” he declares, however. “I’m not running for anything and don’t support anyone at this point.
“I’m just trying to get the word out,” Evans adds.