My name is Megan McKenna, and I am running for Summit County Council seat C.
In the 2024 Equity Enhancement Cohort class, we were recently tasked with writing our why statements. Reflecting on the exercise, I realized my equity why statement is the same as my
County Council why statement.
In light of recent unsolicited, anonymous and disingenuous emails that ended up in Summit County voter in-boxes, I’m sharing my why statement.
My parents settled in the Snyderville Basin at a time when the local workforce could afford to buy a home and raise a family in the area. From humble beginnings, they moved to Summit County for a job opportunity and put five kids through the Park City School District. I believe it takes a village, and we certainly had one at that time. I am forever grateful.
I graduated from Park City High School in 1999 and was so excited to cast my first ballot in the
2000 election at Treasure Mountain Middle School. While I was a TMMS student from fourth to eighth grade, my teachers helped us save the wetlands behind our school and start a school recycling program
with the newly founded Recycle Utah.
I worked as a professional ski patroller for 11 years. My rookie year at the Canyons in the 2001-02 season provided an unforgettable and influential Olympic experience. During that time, I worked several other local service industry jobs while earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry.
I went on to earn a master’s degree in science education and returned to teach in the district that provided me with a world-class public education. I had several excellent teachers in the Park City School District who profoundly impacted my life. My teachers were my neighbors, active community members and mentors.
I aspired to continue that legacy into the next generation. My love for the outdoors further fueled my passion for the environment and for the next 11 years, I taught high school Earth Science, Biology and AP Environmental Science.
In that time I saw family, friends, and coworkers pushed out of the area due to affordability. My
experience teaching also provided insight into the growing challenges of our young people and
families.
While teaching at Park City High School, and after several years on the waitlist, I had the opportunity
to buy an affordable home in the Park City Heights neighborhood, and it was life-changing.
I’ve always been an advocate for our local workforce and when Mountainlands relaunched the Housing Resource Center in the fall of 2022, I jumped at the opportunity to help advance affordable housing along the Wasatch Back.
Since then and through my work on various boards and commissions, including the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Citizens Climate Lobby, Recycle Utah advisory board, the Mayor’s Seasonal Workforce Taskforce, Park City leadership class, and participating in countless public meetings, I’ve learned even more about Summit County’s greatest challenges.
Change is inevitable, but sustainability and affordability are not. I am not one to let perfection get in the way of progress, and I understand that meaningful solutions require pragmatism, collaboration and compromise.
I don’t advocate for developers and certainly don’t support Dakota Pacific and how they’ve conducted themselves. I advocate for the people and places that make up Summit County. I support negotiating with developers to maximize community benefit and minimize impact while addressing critical county needs.
While we can’t go back in time to the Summit County we first remember, I am hopeful that together, we can build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable Summit County for generations to come.
I am rooted here and care deeply about the people and places that make up our communities.
My motivation to run comes from my former students, my niece and nephews, and the working people of Summit County. They are why I am committed to equity enhancement and why I decided to run for Summit County Council.
Check out the Park Record’s recent voter guide for a side by side candidate comparison and please take unsolicited, anonymous emails for what they’re worth. Informed decisions make for stronger democracies and better representation! For more about why I’m running and where I stand on the issues visit mckennaforsummitcounty.com.