Cami Richardson, a Kamas resident since 2004, has announced her candidacy for the Summit County Council in next year’s election.
“I intend to file the necessary paperwork during the filing period starting Jan. 2, 2024.,” she said in her announcement. She did not say which of three open seats she would seek.
Richardson said she would bring a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to fostering inclusive representation and fiscal responsibility within Summit County to the county councilor role.
She said she started her career as a professional firefighter in Poughkeepsie, New York, rising to the rank of training officer. Her experience as the former chief financial officer of American Ski Company, including taking the company public in 1997, and ownership of multiple businesses in the area, including Park City Meat and Provisions, Summit County Beef, and Beadniks, highlights her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen, she said.
She was the president and founder of the Redstone Merchants Association and then became the president of the Kimball Junction Business Association. She was appointed executive director of Summit County Beef before buying the operation outright from the county. She also served as the executive director of Temple Har Shalom for a few years.
She said she gained a lot of experience dealing with town and county government boards as the lead developer of a successful 12-unit affordable housing project while living on Martha’s Vineyard in the mid-2000s, one of the first affordable housing projects on the island.
Throughout her years in Utah, Richardson has been an active participant in various organizations, including co-founding in 2020 and co-chairing the Park City LGBTQ+ Task Force. Her support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community have been evident through her service on local LGBTQ+ boards and organizing events and her relentless efforts in promoting diversity, equality and inclusivity within the Wasatch Back, she said
She came out in 2016 as transgender.
“My personal mission in life is to help educate and enlighten people about the transgender community by being out in the public domain, day in and day out, just being me and setting a good example,” she said. “I can’t think of a better way to live to that mission than by running for County Council. I’ve had some amazing careers and accomplishments, but nothing compares to the satisfaction I get from being an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. I believe I am making a difference in Summit County.”
She is a graduate of Park City Leadership Class 28, which she said underscores her commitment to personal and professional growth within the local community. Her support for senior citizen housing initiatives reflects her dedication to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all residents, she said.
As a public speaker and a published author of two memoirs, “Do You Know Who I Once Was?” and “Foggy Goggles,” Richardson said she brings a unique storytelling perspective to her candidacy. In 2020, she gave TED talk titled “Transgender by Generations” that she remembered as well received.
“I believe my financial acumen will serve as a valuable asset to the Summit County Council in the years ahead,” Richardson said. “I’m deeply committed to leveraging my experiences and passion for community service to ensure a prosperous and inclusive future for Summit County.”
She said her platform focuses on fiscal responsibility, senior citizen housing, inclusivity, and the county/city relationship.
Richardson lives in Kamas with her spouse, Teri Cook, a longtime registered nurse at the Intermountain InstaCare in Park City, as well as their two dogs, Jeter and Charlie. Her hobbies include skiing, golf, walking, traveling, but her passion is being an advocate for DEI.