Jenny Wilson (Utah)

Infobox Politician
name = Jenny Wilson


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office = County Councilwoman At Large and Salt Lake City Mayoral Candidate
birth_date = Birth date and age|1965|11|1|mf=y
birth_place = Salt Lake City
party = Democratic Party
residence = Salt Lake City, UT
website = [http://www.votejennywilson.com Campaign Website]

Jenny Wilson (b. November 1, 1965) is an American politician who is currently serving as an at-large member of the Salt Lake County Council. In September 2006, Wilson announced her candidacy for the 2007 race for Salt Lake City Mayor. In the September 2007 primary she did not receive the Democratic nomination.

County Council member

Councilmember Wilson was elected to the Council in 2004 after vowing to enact stronger ethics laws and bring about needed reform to Salt Lake County. Wilson has achieved these goals by leading a community effort which resulted in stronger campaign finance, gift ban and nepotism laws at the County. She continues to partner with Mayor Peter Corroon and the Salt Lake County Council in realizing a significant culture change in Salt Lake County government.

Growing up in Salt Lake City

Jenny was born in Salt Lake City. In her early childhood, her father, Ted Wilson was a school teacher and her mother, Kathy, a small business owner and artist. Ted Wilson later became the Administrative Assistant to U.S. Congressman Wayne Owens (D-UT), and in 1976 was elected Mayor of Salt Lake City, serving until 1985. Kathy Wilson is a prominent Utah artist and gallery owner. Jenny Wilson attended Highland Park and Wasatch Elementary schools, Bryant Jr. High, and graduated from East High School in 1983.

College years and higher education

Wilson received a degree in Mass Communication from the University of Utah in 1988. Throughout college, Wilson worked for the Sundance Institute as an office assistant, where she helped launch the first Sundance Film Festival and was involved in the rapid growth of this dynamic film organization. After ten years in the workforce, Wilson entered a mid-career program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and received her Masters in Public Administration from that institution in 1998.

Washington D.C.

After working as the press secretary on her father's 1988 Governor's race, Wilson packed her bags and went to Washington D.C., where she worked for the National Association of Counties, the National Cable Television Association and on Capitol Hill for Congressman Les AuCoin of Oregon. She then returned to her college employer, the Sundance organization from 1990-1992. Missing the political world, she returned to the Oregon U.S. Senate campaign of her former employer, Congressman Les AuCoin. Following that campaign, she returned to Washington D.C. where she was hired by Congressman Bill Orton from Utah. She later became his Chief of Staff and served in that capacity until he left Congress in 1996. Congressman Orton served on the House Banking and Budget Committees and was a member of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition.

Olympic organizing committee

Wilson joined the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in 1999. She served as a Director of Volunteers where her specific duties included retention, communication and special events for the volunteer and paid Games workforce of 26,000 people. Wilson believes that the Olympic Winter Games was an amazing accomplishment for our city and community. She feels honored to have been able to work directly with the committed citizens that helped define its success.

Advocacy for children and people in need

Following the completion of her work for the Olympic Organizing Committee, Wilson joined the staff of "Cover The Uninsured Week," a national campaign to draw attention to the large number of Americans who go without health insurance. She was later hired by "Voices for Utah Children" to direct the "Covering Kids," campaign, dedicated to decreasing the number of Utah children who go without health coverage. While serving in these positions she actively worked to support related social programs.

Personal life

Wilson is married to Trell Rohovit, the CEO of Venafi, a technology company based in Draper, UT. They are the proud parents of two boys, Zach (4) and Max (1). Jenny serves as a Board of Trustee member for the Children's Museum of Utah and the Salt Lake Community Action Program. She also serves on the National Leadership Council for the Utah Museum of Fine Arts and is a member of the Governor's Outdoor Recreation Economic Ecosystem Task Force. She is a Salt Lake County Council representative on the Salt Lake County Council of Governments and the Wasatch Front Regional Council. She enjoys hiking and skiing, and travel.

Wilson has one older brother, two younger sisters and a younger brother.

Wilson considers herself a Mormon, but is not active. [ [http://kutv.com/local/local_story_245220700.html KUTV story] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.votejennywilson.com Campaign Website]
* [http://www.slco.org/co/html/jWilson.html County Council Website]