David Jackson’s Park Record report image
Although she was aware that there was still much work to be done before voters cast their ballots in Utah next fall, a Kamas woman had the potential to win the state’s first openly transgender vote.
Cami Richardson, a seasoned citizen and supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, declared last week that she would be running for the Summit County Council. Richardson would become the government’s only out transgender person to ever be voted in if she survives a potential primary and the general election.
Being transgender shouldn’t be a problem, in my opinion. It ought to be about the individual and my capacity to effect change, make a difference, and lead the community. There will be some people who are never a huge fan. I just hope that it doesn’t become something that prevents me from being elected because other people’s opinions of me are not my business, she said.
Vice Chair Malena Stevens, who is not seeking reelection due to personal and professional obligations, is running for the seat that Richardson now holds. On Tuesday, Republican Byron Ames also made his nomination announcement.
More than ten years after she and her partner Sarah Cook moved to Kamas part-time in 2004, the East Side native came out as trans in 2016. Four years later, the pair moved in permanently.
Despite the fact that eastern Summit County is known for being more conservative than the rest of the Park City area, according to Richardson, the community has accepted and welcomed her transition, which is why she hasn’t been forced to relocate to the West Side.
Similar problems with growth, housing, and congestion are affecting areas in the Kamas Valley and the Snyderville Basin. They have similar concerns about preservation and open space. Richardson noted that when it comes to addressing those matters, people’s needs are very different.
She was aware that some residents outside of Park City have been there for a long time. According to Richardson, it’s crucial for them to maintain a small-town agricultural heart, which must be taken into account when building permits or open space is preserved. Communications could also be made better to make it easier for people to understand how changes are being made and how they are affected.
It’s said that the Kamas Valley is a unique place. In contrast to Park City, which has only recently changed and evolved, I believe they want to do everything they can to keep it that way. It couldn’t be stopped, she claimed.
When Richardson was American Skiing Company’s chief financial officer in 1997, she made her second trip to the Park City region. She came to see the Canyons, formerly Wolf Mountain Ski Resort, and ended up coming back for a number of jobs, including the 2002 Winter Games.
Although her career began as a professional firefighter in Poughkeepsie, New York, she later went on to own numerous businesses in the area, such as the Park City native card, Park City Meat and Provisions, Summit County Beef, and Beadniks.
Richardson was motivated to run for County Council at the age of 70 in order to continue improving the lives of Parkites. She was a founding member of the LGBTQ+ Task Force in Park City, which was established in 2020, and she has participated in numerous community organizations, including the Leadership Class 28 group of Park City residents.
She now wants to contribute to other “worthy causes” by using her extensive background in business and finance. According to Richardson, this entails promoting affordable housing, saving taxpayer money, and enhancing the inclusion of all underrepresented groups in the community.
Individuals may simply learn to love and be kind. Moving forward, specifically in today’s divided world, we can do that to make it a better place to be, she said.
Additionally, there are significant issues with growth, transportation, and the environment, especially in light of the impending Winter Games. To address these problems, Richardson said it is essential to work with local communities in Summit County as well as larger state agencies like the Utah Department of Transportation.
In the 2024 election, three seats on the Summit County Council are up for grabs, including the one Richardson is vying for. A primary election would occur if another Democratic member entered the race for the seat. The Republican nominee would then face the winner in November.
Tonja Hanson and Roger Armstrong, two county council members, announced their intention to run for reelection. As of Tuesday, no opponents had come forth.
Candidates may officially begin filing for office between January 2 and January 8.
