Republican delegates will convene in Coalville on Saturday to vote for a new Utah House District 4 representative. The chosen candidate will fill the vacant seat left by Kera Birkeland, who announced her Jan. 10 resignation in December after winning her bid for reelection in the fall.
State House District 4 includes portions of Morgan, Rich and Summit counties. Three of the eight candidates who filed for the position — Kris Campbell, Ari Ioannides and Melanie Monestere — are politicians from Summit County who have previously run for statewide offices.
The other five candidates are from Morgan County.
Monestere is the chair of the Summit County Republican Party. She ran an unsuccessful campaign against Democratic incumbent Carol Lear for the Utah State Board of Education in 2022.
“As a mother, attorney and chair of the Summit County Republican Party, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges our community faces,” Monestere said. “Representing clients from agricultural industries to working families and small businesses has equipped me to address these issues effectively. Coming from a proud military family, I understand the value of selfless service and sacrifice.”
Rising prices and property taxes are concerning to Monestere, who said she’s seen how inflation has affected families’ budgets.
“I am determined to provide relief for those struggling with property taxes, high inflation, advocate for common-sense tax reforms and invest in education that upholds parental rights and supports our students and teachers,” Monestere explained. “I am a mom on a mission, ready to stand up for our freedoms and deliver results for our community. My vision for District 4 is thriving communities with a great education for our children and property tax relief to keep seniors in their homes.”
Campbell is also no stranger to politics. In fact, he challenged Birkeland for the House District 4 seat in the 2022 and 2024 general elections as a Democrat. He changed party affiliation to qualify for consideration.
“Rep. Birkeland’s decision to resign now, instead of last summer, has taken away voters’ ability to choose who will represent them for the next two years,” Campbell said in a statement. “Instead, the decision now falls to party delegates rather than the broader electorate. While I would have preferred an open primary to engage directly with voters, our system doesn’t allow for it. Therefore, I filed to be considered by the party caucus and will work to ensure that all voices in our district — those who supported me and those who didn’t — are represented.”
Birkeland outran Campbell by only 4,744 votes in 2024. Campbell’s political career started around four years ago when he started gathering signatures to run in 2020. He wasn’t affiliated with a political party at the time, but he opted to register as a Democratic Party candidate in 2022 because “that’s the nature of the system.”
“I’ve been very consistent about staying within my integrity and who I am,” Campbell said. “I’m committed to uniting our community by finding common ground and staying independent of party agendas.”
Ioannides also ran for office in 2024, hoping to fill Summit County Council Seat C after former councilor Malena Stevens announced she would not run for reelection. He lost by approximately a 1% margin to Democrat Megan McKenna.
He said the experience allowed him to connect with thousands of voters and build relationships with local leaders. Campaign supporters and state delegates encouraged Ioannides to run for the Utah House District 4 seat.
“One of the key messages I’ve heard from delegates is the importance of having a representative with deep roots in the Wasatch Back — someone who lives here full-time and understands the unique character of Morgan, Rich and Summit counties,” Ioannides said. “I believe my commitment to the community, combined with my experience as a technology entrepreneur, local government volunteer and advocate for balanced growth, positions me well to represent the values of our district.”
Birkeland’s resignation went into effect on Friday, 11 days before the General Session starts. The Republican cited familial and professional commitments. Her departure from the Utah Legislature triggered the special election, where state delegates will select a replacement and submit the winner to Gov. Spencer Cox.