Megan McKenna was in the fourth grade at Treasure Mountain in the early ’90s when her teachers inspired a movement to save the wetlands in the backyard of the middle school.It was around the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, before Ecker Hill Middle School or McPolin Elementary were built, and an environmental movement was happening across the country. McKenna remembers writing stories about the wetlands in English class, conducting experiments in science class and learning about the Clean Water Act during history class.“There was this really collaborative effort that really connected students to their community,” she said. “That has been the biggest influence on me, growing up here with the mentors and leaders in our community at the time that really connected me to my home. … That was the reason I wanted to come back and teach here, how impactful that was for me, and I wanted to really carry that on for the next generation.”It’s those unique people and places in Park City that had the greatest influence on McKenna’s upbringing, and a large part of her inspiration to run for Summit County Council. The former Park City High School teacher and ski patroller turned community advocate is campaigning for Seat C, held by Chair Malena Stevens, who is not seeking reelection.McKenna’s family moved from California to Utah for a job opportunity when she was a young girl. Park City was a much smaller town 30 years ago, the kind of place where everyone knew everyone and teachers lived in the same neighborhoods as their students. But there was a dramatic shift with the 2002 Winter Olympics.Second-home ownership started to grow, short-term rentals became more common, and the cost of living started to rise. McKenna recalled having to work multiple jobs during the Games just to make ends meet, including as a ski patroller, taxi driver and server. She graduated from Park City High School in 1999 and pursued a biology degree at the University of Utah before transferring to Northern Arizona University, where she also earned a master’s in science education intending to teach in her hometown.McKenna initially taught in Salt Lake City for two years before leaving to find an opportunity in Park City, even if it meant moving back in with her parents. There was another shift about four years ago. McKenna said the community was already headed in a direction of explosive growth, but the coronavirus pandemic just fast-tracked that. She witnessed family, friends and coworkers being pushed out of the area because they couldn’t afford to live here.The same year, McKenna was able to purchase an affordable home in the Park City Heights neighborhood after several years on a waitlist. Her mortgage now is still cheaper than what her rent cost five years ago. Yet she said she wouldn’t be able to afford her home if she bought it today.Moving into an affordable home completely changed McKenna’s life, she said. It provided long-term security and made her feel rooted in the community.“I really saw the connection at that point between housing and our workforce challenges, climate, traffic and community. So, that’s when I really started advocating for more opportunities like that. I really saw affordable housing as part of the solution to all of our greatest challenges,” McKenna said. The experience eventually led McKenna to join the Mountainlands Community Housing Trust when the nonprofit relaunched its Housing Resource Center in the fall of 2022. Since then, she’s been involved in several civic groups, including the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Citizens Climate Lobby, the Mayor’s Seasonal Workforce Taskforce, Park City Leadership Class 28, and more.McKenna believes her background gives her a unique perspective into the greatest challenges the community faces from the workforce to young families to education, tourism and the nonprofit sector. She said the best decisions come when different voices are heard.As a teacher, McKenna quickly learned how to communicate effectively, de-escalate situations and keep people engaged. She has also had to work with a variety of community organizations, hear concerns and cooperate with partners to implement solutions as a community advocate.She was inspired to serve on the County Council, rather than a different government board such as a planning commission, because of the opportunity to have a wide-ranging impact on the residents of Summit County. Stevens also strongly encouraged McKenna to run.“I think it is narrow-minded and a disservice to voters to imply there is only one path to governance. If sitting on boards and commissions and donating money or land were required to serve, most working people would be excluded,” McKenna said. “Ideally, a council is comprised of a diverse group of backgrounds and experiences that bring a range of skills and better represent the people.”McKenna doesn’t think political parties matter much in local elections because the County Council is not making partisan decisions. She’s interested in collaborating across the region and at the state level to ensure the choices made are in the best interest of every resident because community members have a lot more in common than they do differently.For example, McKenna said she’s not pro-development. Instead, she is for responsible growth that benefits people. This could include building housing near transit or job sites. The first thing she wants to do would be helping the County Council commit to a housing goal that’s smart, data-driven and based on the community’s current and future needs. She also wants to bring in additional resources to connect opportunities for funding sources, such as grant writing, to the county, its municipalities and residents.McKenna recognized she would be a freshman councilor with a lot to learn if elected. However, she said she’s committed to getting up to speed and working with staff to better understand where the community stands.Summit County voters will have the choice between McKenna and Republican Ari Ioannides, the former executive director of the Park City Institute, now called Park City Performing Arts, on Election Day.The post Megan McKenna’s campaign for change is rooted in Summit County appeared first on Park Record.