I got the call from my political party asking if I’d run for a trustee position on the Oquirrh Parks District board. They saw me often at meetings that I intended just to stay informed. I’d volunteer during elections, but never wanted to run myself.
To be honest, I wasn’t even a current member of the fitness center the board oversees, but I said ‘yes’ anyway. I didn’t really think I’d win. But I didn’t want to see someone win just because they were uncontested, which often happens in municipal elections.
I thought I was being civic-minded. Principled, even. A backup candidate to make sure voters had options.
Then seven people filed to run. Seven.
When I saw the final candidate list, I wanted to drop out. I wasn’t qualified for this. I didn’t have a platform. I hadn’t even set foot in the fitness center in years. What was I doing? But I had already filed. My name was already on the ballot. Somewhere in that moment of panic, I made myself sit down and ask a different question: How could I make a difference using the strengths I already had?
I reminded myself that some of the best opportunities come from taking risks and putting myself out there.
So I stayed in. I got a website. I printed a t-shirt. I ordered a campaign sign. Someone told me those were the basics, the little things that mattered and I started there.
The interviews were the hardest part. Journalists would ask about my platform issues, and at first I didn’t have clearly identified issues. I had to figure out what I cared about, what my community needed, and how my strengths could address those needs. It was scary to put myself out there like that. To be questioned and compared to six other candidates who probably felt more prepared than I did. I questioned whether anyone would even vote for me.
But I kept showing up to local events, to conversations with people employed by the recreation center and to moments where I could learn what my community actually needed from this role.
When election day came around, two of the seven candidates had dropped out. The race was down to five of us, and two seats were open. The incumbent would probably win one. That left one seat for the rest of us.
And I won! I won big.
I am proud to say I took 32.24% of the vote. The next closest candidate received 18.64%. I didn’t just make it onto the board. I was the first-place winner. I am now a sworn public official.
Granted, this is just the tiniest of municipal races. But I am an elected representative of my party—even though it’s technically a non-partisan race. I represent my community. People trusted me with their votes when I wasn’t even sure I could compete.
Since taking office, I’ve met other strong women who hold various types of public office. I’m learning so much from them. I’m blessed to rub shoulders with other risk-takers—women who also said ‘yes’ when they weren’t sure they were qualified, who also showed up when it would have been easier to drop out.
I’m grateful for the many great people I’ve met at local events and at the recreation center itself. These are the people I get to serve now. The same people who took a chance on someone who took a chance on herself. When I look back at that moment when I saw seven names on the candidate list and wanted to quit, I realize something: The tap wasn’t just the phone call from my party.
The real tap was deciding to stay in the race when every instinct told me to drop out.
It was choosing to figure out my platform instead of assuming I didn’t have one. It was ordering the t-shirt and the sign and the website when I still wasn’t sure anyone would vote for me. The tap was recognizing that caring about my community was qualification enough to try.
I learned in real time that you can’t win if you don’t try. And if you care about your community—if you see a need, a gap, an opportunity to make things better—you’re more qualified than you think.
— Christine Peasley, Political Development Series · 2025
Be brave. Take the chance. Stand up and be a voice for others to join in. Don’t be intimidated by the seven other names on the ballot, or the people who seem more prepared, or the voice in your head saying you’re not ready.
You can do it and you will be amazing. I know because I did it too. With a website, a t-shirt, a campaign sign, and the willingness to stay in when it got scary.
Sometimes that’s all it takes.