When Bruce Hough isn’t spending time with his 10 children and 22 grandchildren, he’s working in the business world as founder and managing partner of Hough Management LLC and of L-E-A-D.CO, a leadership development company. Now he has his sights set on Congress. 

“I’m an outsider in this race,” he said. “I haven’t been in politics but I bring a different view. I’m a big family man. I’ve signed both sides of a paycheck. If you want someone to negotiate in Congress, you want someone who has negotiated in big business.”

Hough comes from a farming background and believes that makes a difference in the rural areas of the district. “I look at Washington today and they have agencies that overreach,” he said. “They tie up good land for farming. Congress steps in and it’s not in their scope.”

It doesn’t allow for thinning by leaving it alone, said Hough. “We’re creating a fire hazard by not letting animals graze and allowing regeneration. It’s not in the federal government’s purview.”

Every congressional district should have urban and rural areas, he said. “Utah is the most urbanized state in the country. We’re not just urban but also rural. I like the fact that we tried to do that with redistricting. We should be concerned about all parts of the state.”

One of Hough’s goals in Congress is to bring down the debt. “We have $32 trillion in debt,” he said. “That is unsustainable. They need to reduce the deficit spending. Congress needs to do its job. We’re spending $6.5 trillion. You can’t spend more than you have. I want to slow down the growth of government.”

The strategy is pretty simple, Hough said. “What can be done incrementally? We need to eliminate waste. If you don’t need it, don't spend it. We have a specific responsibility to serve the people we represent. Optimize the money we have and return it to the people. Get more money from Washington to the states.”

National security is another area Hough is concerned about. “We need to rebuild the military to defend ourselves and others.”

Hough also wants to see the country become energy independent and to have strong control at the border. 

Other vital issues to Utah are land and water, he said. “If we want to use the land we have to be good stewards of it. We want to preserve future lands that we hold dear so that many can have access to them.”

Water is the gold of the West, said Hough. “We need it to prosper and grow. It depends 100% on Mother Nature so it’s difficult. The Great Salt Lake is essential to the environment, economy and ecosystem so we have to find a way to preserve it.”

Hough said he has no obstacles to serve in Congress. “I’m there to serve, not climb the ladder. I don’t need a job, I’ve created jobs in the state.”

Making an impact starts with one person, he said. “I think I’m that one to have an impact and make a difference. I don’t believe in contention. I want to listen to others and develop trust so that there can be productive conflict. I look forward to serving the people of the district.”