08012019_Spencer_Cox_CMM_4739

Former Aggie and potential Governor Spencer Cox takes to USU on his ‘service tour’

Aggie Alumnus and 2020 Utah gubernatorial candidate Spencer Cox took to his alma mater Thursday to help repaint the iconic block “A.”

As part of his campaign, Cox pledged to visit every city in the state and conduct an act of service in each place. When he heard about the opportunity to re-paint the “A,” he was excited because it is such an iconic part of Logan.

“We are trying to do acts of service all over the state as we travel and visit all 248 cities and towns,” Cox said. “And when we heard this was a possibility, I thought I was being punked and that it was a joke so I’m so excited to be able to do this.”

Cox’s service campaign has helped people notice him and see the person running for governor, Ariel Defay, Cox’s Deputy Campaign Manager said.

“It is amazing, already, how him coming to these communities and connecting with the people has made them see first, for him, that he is the real deal and that he really deeply cares about Utah. But secondly, it is getting the message out there that government isn’t meant to fix people’s problems but that getting involved in community is what will help fix people’s problems,” said Defay.

Cox said the idea to conduct service on the campaign trail was inspired by a friend who served on Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign

“We were talking about it one day and he said ‘You know we spent a billion dollars and probably millions of man hours and the other side spent a billion dollars too. What do we get for all of that?’ and he said ‘Well, we got a president and we got the same president we would have gotten if nobody spent any money but is the country a better place because of it?’ and the answer was no,” Cox said. “This was years ago, and we just said ‘What if it was different. What if campaigns were about doing good? Still talking about issues but not tearing other people down and instead reminding people of the importance of serving and giving back.”

Cox said the acts of service are refreshing because of the negativity associated with politics today.

“But the other piece of that is if I lose, I get to look back and say, ‘I did make the state a better place,” Cox said.

Lyle Hillyard, a Utah state senator, said Cox’s campaign is doing great because Utah is a service-oriented state.

“Service is really part of our identity, part of our DNA. So, I think highlighting that and doing service I think also teaches people that he is a common man, like everybody else,” Hillyard said.

ammiskin@gmail.com

@AutumnMarilyn