During his monthly press conference on Thursday, Gov. Spencer Cox discussed some of Utah’s more prominent current events, including Amendment D and his excitement about the Salt Lake Bees’ move to Daybreak Field.
Cox opened the conference by showing his gratitude for Utah’s firefighters during the wildfire season and thanked teachers for their work since the beginning of the school year.
However, once Cox opened the floor for questions, the conversation quickly changed to recent happenings in Utah, judicial reform, child abuse cases and homeschooling oversight.
2024 Ballot Language and Judicial Reform
Amendment D, which was supposed to be on November’s ballot, was voided by a district judge on Sept. 12. The proposed amendment would allow Utah lawmakers to repeal voter-led initiatives.
Some of the controversy around Amendment D lies in its language on the ballot, as many Utah voters feel its language is misleading.
When asked if he believes that the ballot language is misleading or confusing, Cox said that whether or not the language is clear isn’t his decision.
“That’s up to the judiciary to decide. I read the opinion from the lower court, and it’s a compelling opinion,” Cox said. “The role of the court is not to supplant the law and to write that language, but it is important that the language is clean and conveys what the actual changes will do.”
The Utah Supreme Court has agreed to decide if Amendment D will remain on the ballot before the Nov. 5 election.
During the discussion surrounding Amendment D, some state lawmakers’ desire for judicial reform and the election of judges was brought up. Cox said he does not support the election of judges and doesn’t see a reason to implement more “divisive elections” into an independent branch of government.
Safety for Utah’s Youth
A recurring topic of conversation during the conference was child abuse and child safety in Utah.
One reporter asked Cox if he knew of the concerns regarding staffing and funding in the Department of Child and Family Services.
Cox acknowledged that DCFS and social services are among the many sectors facing workforce shortages within the last few years. He said that Utah has increased wages for social workers to combat high turnover rates.
Cox was also asked about homeschooling oversight and accountability for parents who homeschool their children. Cox quickly said that oversight is unnecessary.
“The people who are accountable for this are the people who abused the child, and they are going to be held accountable,” he said referring to the death of Gavin Peterson. “And I hope they rot in hell. They are the people responsible.”
Utah’s Culture
Cox touched on recent developments surrounding the economy and culture of Utah.
When asked what has been done to keep the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Cox said he has been very involved in deciding on the festival’s next location.
Specifically, Cox mentioned his involvement in the Sundance Institute’s Request for Proposal, which was announced in April. He said that his pitch to Sundance was well received and that its feedback was positive.
“Sundance and Utah are connected in ways that would devastate both of us if that separation were to happen,“ Cox said.
Cox also commented on the Salt Lake Bees approaching their last game at Smith’s Ballpark in downtown Salt Lake City because of their move to Daybreak Field at America First Square. Cox said that he’s excited for the future as a Bees fan and that he’s excited to see Major League Baseball come to Salt Lake.
“We’ve got bigger and better plans for Salt Lake City, and I can’t wait, over the next few years, to bring a Major League Baseball experience to Salt Lake City,“ Cox said.
