As I run for Provo City Council, I've decided to withdraw from consideration for the GOP endorsement.

I've been agonizing over this decision because I know it could have significant implications for my race. However, I've ultimately decided that if I can't stand by my principles and get elected, then I won't be able to serve Provo the way I want to—nor the way my constituents deserve.

Ultimately, it came down to this: For the last decade, I've bemoaned the increasing partisan polarization of almost every aspect of our lives. I've seen it make us angrier, more divided, and less capable of solving the very real problems facing our society. I just couldn't be complicit in furthering this sad, dangerous trend.

Municipal races in Utah have been nonpartisan since early statehood, as our ancestors recognized that keeping them nonpartisan would keep us focused on practical, local issues rather than national party agendas.

Let me explain my decision in more detail:

As a GOP Precinct Chair, I opposed the UTGOP's recent effort to endorse candidates for nonpartisan city council races. I wasn't alone in this—the vote was 148-148, broken by the Chair after conceding only to try it for this year's races.

When I was invited to participate, my initial reaction was that I saw other politicians I deeply respected doing it. I didn't want to risk losing my race in a district that is over 55% Republican.

I've always been a Republican and believe in conservative values. I was President of the BYU College Republicans, traveled around the country volunteering on Mitt Romney's campaign, and have served as a State Delegate, County Delegate, and Precinct Chair for years.

It was an opportunity to meet more people and introduce myself as the former Chair of the Provo Planning Commission, an entrepreneur, and small business owner with a vision to improve Provo's financial situation, strategic planning, and investment in natural resources.

So I paid the fee and applied for consideration.

But as part of the process, I was asked to sign a "Candidate Accountability Form" that required me to pledge support to the new, proposed Utah County Republican party platform.

I concluded that signing such a pledge would have transformed me from a nonpartisan public servant to a partisan one.

To be clear, I agree with most things in the party platform, especially its foundational principles: "that all people are created equal and that the role of government should be limited to protecting and preserving the God-given rights of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the ownership and control of property. Morality and virtue are the foundation of a republic and necessary for a society to be free."

I am a Republican and believe in conservative principles, including fiscal responsibility, free enterprise, private property rights, the rule of law, and civic responsibility.

But part of being conservative is also respecting the wisdom of those who came before us, and I don't believe now is the time to go against over 100 years of Utah wisdom that city races should remain nonpartisan.

I'm running to serve all residents of District 2, regardless of party affiliation. The best solutions emerge from applying sound principles while listening to everyone, focusing on data, creativity, and collaborating on the practical challenges we face as a community.