Utah lawmaker wants to lower required age to run for state office

SALT LAKE CITY — The youngest woman elected into the Utah legislature is proposing a resolution to lower the required age to run for state office.

Currently, the minimum age someone can run for state office in Utah is 25. Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, who was elected at 26, wants to lower that to 21 years old.

What do you think? Listen to Dave and Debbie at 10:20!

 

According to Pierucci, 25 is older than the age requirement in “a lot of other states in our country.” For example, in California, the required age to run for state office is 18.

Pierucci said young people offer a valuable perspective to policy making.

“As someone who has a young family and who has to balance a home budget, I have a different perspective on things,” she said. “I feel like it’s helpful to have that diversity of thought in the [legislative] body. There’s no need, in my mind, to have an arbitrary age of 25.”

She argued that if you’re old enough to fight and die for your country, “you should be able to run for office.”

If the House and Senate approve the resolution it will be on the ballot in November as a constitutional amendment.

Keep reading

• 2024 legislative session kicks off in Utah
• New bill protects student-athlete’s right to wear religious clothing
• Utah bill targets adults and students who swat public schools
• Proposed bill would require public schools to display The 10 Commandments