Aimee Winder Newton is an American politician and member of the
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County is located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,185,238, making it the most populous county in Utah. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. The cou ...
Council representing the
3rd district. On October 23, 2019, Winder Newton announced her candidacy for Governor of Utah in 2020. Winder Newton would be the first female candidate for governor to appear on the ballot for either party.
Political career
Winder Newton was elected to the Salt Lake County Council with 78% of the vote. She is the first female Republican to serve on the Salt Lake County Council and was elected to chair the Council in 2018.
While Winder Newton led the Council in 2018, the Council passed a balanced budget with no tax increase with an emphasis on public safety. During her time on the council, Winder Newton has focused on breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty, improving the criminal justice system and advocating for mental health resources. In 2019 Winder Newton rejected a proposal by her colleagues to give points in the County bidding process for women and minority-owned businesses stating "that no groups should receive an unfair advantage or disadvantage based on their skin color or gender." In 2019, she co-sponsored a bill with
Democratic Councilman Arlyn Bradshaw, who is gay, to urge
Utah State Legislature
The Utah State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. It is a bicameral body, comprising the Utah House of Representatives, with 75 state representatives, and the Utah Senate, with 29 state senators. There are no term li ...
to ban
conversion therapy
Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. In contrast to evidence-based medicine and cl ...
, which passed the Council unanimously.
Long active in Republican politics, Winder Newton was involved with the
College Republicans and served as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Utah.
In her campaign for Utah Governor, Winder Newton said the top issues she will look at include high quality education, supporting a stronger and more nimble workforce, as well as growth related issues such as air quality, housing affordability, adequate water supply, and enhanced infrastructure.
Personal life
Winder Newton was born in
Granger
Granger may refer to:
People
*Granger (name)
*Hermione Granger, a fictional character in Harry Potter
United States
* Granger, Indiana
* Granger, Iowa
* Granger, Minnesota
* Granger, Missouri
* Granger, New York
* Granger, Ohio
* Granger, Te ...
, the daughter of Sherri (Jepson) and Kent Winder. Her family has a long history of civic involvement. Winder Newton's great-grandfather and father both served as Granger-Hunter Improvement District trustees, with her father also being elected to Taylorsville's first city council.
Her mother, who died in 2011, worked for Utah Governor
Jon Huntsman Jon Huntsman may refer to:
* Jon Huntsman Sr. (1937–2018), corporate executive and philanthropist (father of Jon Huntsman Jr.)
* Jon Huntsman Jr. (born 1960), U.S. politician and the former U.S. ambassador to Russia, China and Singapore
* John A. ...
and was U.S. Rep.
Jason Chaffetz
Jason E. Chaffetz (; born March 26, 1967) is an American retired politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2009 until his resignation in 2017. He chaired the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2015 until 2017.
Ch ...
’s office manager in
West Jordan. The eldest of five children, her youngest brother, Isaac, died in 2014. Another brother,
Mike Winder, was mayor of
West Valley City
West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt Lake County and a suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 140,230 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census,
making it the List of cities and towns in ...
and is currently a member of the Utah House of Representatives.
Winder Newton married her husband Matt in 1993 and has four children.
Education and career
She graduated from
Taylorsville High School,
Ricks College
Ricks may refer to:
People
* Andre Ricks (born 1996), American basketball player
* Bob Ricks (21st century), American police chief
* Christopher Ricks (born 1933), British literary critic and scholar
* Doug Ricks, American politician and member ...
, and the
University of Utah
The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...
, where she received a BS in Mass Communications. Winder Newton grew a mortgage business and started the communications firm Figco, Inc. She is the founder of Citizens Supporting a Strong Taylorsville, and was the first director of communications for
Taylorsville City. Winder Newton served as vice-chair for the Taylorsville Economic Development committee, the public-relations and advertising director of the Taylorsville Incorporation Committee, eight years as a planning commissioner, and five years on the Granite School District Community Council.
References
External links
3rd District website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newton, Aimee Winder
Utah Republicans
1974 births
Living people
University of Utah alumni
People from Taylorsville, Utah
Latter Day Saints from Utah
Brigham Young University–Idaho alumni
Women city councillors in Utah
21st-century American women politicians
21st-century American politicians
Candidates in the 2020 United States elections