Paul Recanzone is running as the Democratic candidate for House District 51. His opponent is Greg Hughes (R) who is the incumbent.

His website is www.recanzone.org, Facebook page can be found by clicking here but no Twitter account was provided at the time of publication. He can also be reached via email at paul@recanzone.org.

Here are Paul’s answers to my absurd questions:

1)      How long have you lived in your district and what made you move there in the first place? I have lived in the southern part of Sandy for just about nine years. We came back to Utah after spending time in the Army and in the Washington DC area and were drawn to the southeast portion of the valley.

2)      What does your family look like (married; kids; pets)? I am married to Steffanie and we have three children – Erin, Ryan, and Sera.

3)      What do you drive? What is your dream vehicle? I drive a Hyundai Elantra but I have my eye on the new Chevrolet Volt.

4)      What was the last book you finished? “Digital Crossroads: American Telecommunications Policy in the Internet Age” – But I am really not that much of a nerd (well, maybe…). Reading is a great way to expand your understanding of the world and to see that other people may think differently than you do.  Check out my reading list at goodreads.com.

5)      What is your favorite store and/or restaurant in your district? Pirate O’s is my favorite store. We like Hagermann’s but we are always on the lookout for good locally owned and operated restaurants – have you got any suggestions?

6)      Turn your head to the right, what do you see? The window to 72nd South.

7)      In 25 words or less, explain why you are a Democrat. In difficult times, conservatives circle the wagons and attempt to control the situation. Progressives strike out across the plains and work for a better world.

8)      Who would win if a bear and a shark fought each other (feel free to explain)? Unless the bear is a really good swimmer, the shark is going to win.

9)      In 50 words or less, explain why you want to be a public servant. We each owe a little piece of ourselves to a cause bigger than we are.

10)  What was the last cultural event you went to? Steffanie and I did a double header of Tarazan and Cats at Tuachan. We are excited about Pioneer Theater Company’s upcoming season (kicking off with Hamlet in September).

11)  What are the three things you plan to fight for when elected? Freedom – Opportunity – Security.

12)  Do you know what OMGWTFBBQ stands for? In a nod to “Better Off Ted”, it is going to revolutionize the way we do business.

13)  What is the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights? There is not a “most” important amendment in the Bill of Rights.  The Bill of Rights establishes a precedent that “in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” we must protect the rights of individuals to think differently than we do and to own different things than we own.

14)  What is your favorite band? Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band.

15)  If you could change one thing about your district, what would it be? We need to ensure local and state laws are in place so people are free from job and housing discrimination because of their race, gender, or sexual preference. We need to revitalize our commitment to public education so that our children have the opportunity of a better quality of life than we enjoy. We need to grow Utah’s economy so homeowners can be secure in their homes. Just some examples of what I mean by the answer to number eleven.

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