Dylan McDonnell  
Candidate for: House of Representative district 24

Political party: Libertarian
Birth date: March 15, 1980
Birth place: Provo, Utah
Current city of residence: Salt Lake City
Family members:
Current occupation: Graduate Student/Customer Service Manager UofU Conference services
Education: Completing Masters in Middle East Studies – Political Science
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Dialogues, Raquetteball, Middle East Politics, Environmentalism, Equal Rights.

1. Using 150 to 200 words, please state your reasons for running for office. What compels you to take on this responsibility?
    
   It is important that the unique environment of district 24 be preserved from those who have not invested time, funds, or work into the area. District 24 is unique in Utah due to it’s amalgamation of individuals from all income levels and all walks of life. It offers a distinctive combination of residential, commercial, and public facilities that cannot be found anywhere else in this state.  I feel an obligation to lend my voice to the protection and betterment of this community.
    
2. What do you consider to be the top three issues currently facing Utah? Please list them in order of priority to you (with #1 the most important) and explain why they are important to you and to Utah.
    
   I feel the top three issues currently facing Utah is ensuring a proper healthcare program is instituted, equal rights for all individuals before the law regardless of the various unique characteristics of an individual’s identity, and decreasing the environmental footprint left in Salt Lake Valley.
    
3. What do you plan to do to address your top three issues?
    
   I plan to work with both parties to come to viable solutions, without ever compromising the integrity of my platform, wherein the community has control of its own destiny. I would also work to repeal offensive legislation that inhibits equal rights, and strive to enact laws that protect the community from those who have not devoted time and energy in it.
    
4. What are your most important accomplishments that would make you the most qualified candidate for office? 
    
   I have been active in local and national politics.  I have been active in my party and the community through my membership in public and private organizations that are dedicated to community and self betterment.  I will continue to strive to better the community by fostering a relationship between these very important groups.
    
5. What skills, talents, and strengths do you have that enhance your ability to be an effective office holder?
    
   Being a Libertarian, I have the ability to relate to each party their platform, and their goals.  Being relatively fresh to the state political scene I still have the unique combination of idealism and pragmatism without being forced, like so many candidates, to compromise their inner beliefs and what is best for the community in the name of political expediency.
    
6. Why do you belong to your political party? 
    
   At the core of Libertarianism there is the constant reminder that the power of elected officials comes from every individual within their constituency.  There should not be, as is often seen, the rights of the individual cast aside for the benefit of the powerful.
   
   Some call libertarianism a crazy ideal, a dream that will never occur, a lost hope.  Yet, I continue. I continue to hope, I continue to dream, and I will continue to fight for those individuals who not only understand, but represent and spread the message of a government of the people, by the people, for the people; that is why I am a libertarian.