Carl is not independently wealthy and understands the value of a single dollar.  He lives on a budget and believes the government should too.  He doesn’t have the privilege of boasting an expensive degree from an established University, rather his experience comes from lessons learned on the streets and achieved through life’s opportunities, growing his own business and by having great mentors.  Never has Carl allowed others to distract him from setting and achieving, what they believe are unattainable goals.  His message is clear: anything you put your mind to, and commit to achieve, is attainable.

When Carl first ran for office, he committed himself to staying true to a core set of governing principles of which included honesty, smaller government, upholding the Constitution, and representing family values.  He has based his voting record and leadership upon such principles and has continuously fought to preserve individual liberties and make conservative decisions.  His track record consists of principled votes, fighting to bring government closer to the people by uniting citizens and legislators in common goals, defending the tax payer, representing traditional family values, and leading the movement against the overarching reach of the federal government. 

Work and Home

Although Carl’s father and three of his brothers participated in serving the country in the armed forces, Carl’s attention was directed toward his childhood dream of fighting crime in the streets as a law enforcement officer.  He began his career at the Granite Police Department, and a year later was hired by South Jordan City.  With Carl’s leadership qualities and motivating personality, he helped create the first South Jordan SWAT team and was a leader on the team for several years.  Carl also became certified to teach the DARE and Eddie Eagle programs in the elementary schools.  He truly enjoyed mentoring children; his energetic and fun influence would be remembered by those kids for years to come. 

Carl became a certified Drug Recognition Expert and the first K-9 Officer for South Jordan.  He and his yellow lab, Cuffs, were instrumental in detecting drugs in vehicles and on persons not only in their city, but all over the Salt Lake Valley.  

Carl was the head use-of-force and firearms instructors for the department.  An avid supporter of the 2^nd Amendment, Carl began using his training and instructional skills in the private sector.  He formed a small business, not only to supplement his police income, but to share quality firearms training with citizens. 

Always looking for the next big challenge and an opportunity to grow, Carl left South Jordan and worked the next three years of his police career for West Valley City.  Here, he received the Police Star after suffering smoke inhalation injuries, and for risking his life evacuating people from condos which were engulfed in flames and full of smoke.

During this period, he became friends with a fellow officer who would become Carl’s business partner. Together with entrepreneurial spirits, they successfully run a landscaping business and are engaged in the planning stage of an online business.  In his spare time, he volunteers as a reserve police officer for a city in Weber County.

Carl’s greatest passion in life is his family.  Married for twelve years with three children, he devotes all he has to being a good husband and father.  Family time is the most valuable time spent for Carl.  His wife is his best friend and biggest supporter, his children love his hands-on approach when it comes to playtime.  100% supportive of Carl’s political service, and the need to spend quality time together, his family is a frequent companion of his on the political trail.  Whether it is walking door-to-door in his campaign, participating in fundraisers, or attending political events across Utah, you will most likely find his family at his side. 

Carl and Sherry moved to Herriman in 2000, at the start of the city's housing boom. Its small town appeal, safe neighborhoods, close churches, beautiful scenery and open park spaces have proved Herriman to be a wonderful place to raise their family.  Although Carl has become a proven leader for all of Utah, he does not forget that he was elected to represent the citizens of Herriman, Riverton and a small portion of South Jordan, and to be an advocate for their needs.  He continues to work with the administrations of all three cities and connects with his constituents often.        

Politics

Carl became actively involved in the political process after researching school choice issues for the benefit of children who were falling through the cracks.  After learning that his State Representative was not supportive of school choice, as well as discovering that he had voted against the largest tax cut in Utah history, Carl decided to campaign for the position himself.  He found overwhelming support in the community as he based his first political platform on improving children’s educational opportunities by empowering parents with more choice options, stronger penalties for child sex offenders, bringing government closer to the people, and fiscal responsibility.  Carl was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in November 2006.

Always a go getter, Carl made a splash during his first term in office.  He introduced legislation that was modeled after Florida’s Jessica Lunsford Act.  This new law increased the penalties for first time child sex offenders to a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, or life without parole.  He also worked to increase penalties for child kidnappers and made child killers eligible for the death penalty.  

With the understanding that parents know what's best for their children, not government bureaucrats, along with the knowledge that the current structure of education in Utah is not meeting the needs of every child, Carl fulfilled his campaign promise by voting in favor of the Parent’s Choice in Education Act.  This bill expanded educational options and introduced competition into education.  The bill passed through the state legislature, but was overturned by referendum later that year.

Carl was reelected for a second term and led the fight against abortions in the state of Utah.  He passed the Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act which requires that a doctor performing an abortion must notify the mother of the child's ability to feel pain and offer an anesthetic for the child.  He also ran a bill that removed the exemption from prosecution for women who have illegal abortions. 

Recognizing a worker's right to vote by secret ballot, Carl passed a state constitutional amendment protecting that right.  Constitutional amendments require the citizens to ratify, so this bill will go on the ballot in 2010.

Leadership

Although Carl was still fairly new to the Utah Legislature, he never let that deter him from taking the lead on reasserting the powers of the states.  Sighting the 10^th Amendment of the US Constitution as their foundation, Carl and four other Representatives formed the state sovereignty coalition called The Patrick Henry Caucus.  The day after the formation of the caucus, Carl was able to announce it on the Glenn Beck television show.  The group had two weeks to organize and strategize before they were to return to the Glenn Beck show for a second time.  The caucus has become the legislative voice for grassroots organizations across not only Utah, but also the United States. 

Uniting legislators in protecting the powers that belong to the states and to the people, The Patrick Henry Caucus fought against big government at the federal level by passing legislation.  Some of the legislation addressed Obama-care, land use, and in-state firearms sales.  The legislators of the caucus will continue to fight for this cause.  The caucus has also become instrumental in the campaigns of several candidates throughout Utah.  Voters recognize that if a candidate is endorsed by The Patrick Henry Caucus, then that candidate has declared their support in the state sovereignty movement and has promised to fight for their individual freedoms.