Kera Birkeland
Kera Birkeland is an American politician, educator, and coach from Utah. She currently serves as the representative for Utah House District 53. She is on the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, House Education Committee, and House Judiciary Committee.[1] Birkeland replaced Logan Wilde in April 2020, and was re-elected in 2020, with 64 percent of the vote.[2]
Kera Birkeland | |
---|---|
Member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 53rd District | |
Assumed office April 16, 2020 | |
Preceded by | Logan Wilde |
Personal details | |
Born | 1982/1983 (age 38–39) |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Lars Birkeland |
Children | 5 |
Residence(s) | Morgan, Utah |
Alma mater | Brigham Young University |
Prior to election, she competed in the 2012 Mrs. Utah pageant and served as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, representing Ted Cruz. She expressed distaste toward Donald Trump at the time.[3]
In January 2021, Birkeland introduced a resolution to honor Utah Jazz player Donovan Mitchell over retired player Shaquille O'Neal, as well as to make 'Spida' (Mitchell's nickname) the state arachnid of Utah. The resolution passed.[4] During the 2021 legislative session, Birkeland lead efforts and introduced a bill to ban transgender athletes from highschool sports in Utah.[5] This was vetoed by Republican Governor Spencer Cox but passed with a supermajority in the legislature in a subsequent vote after proponents flipped ten votes in the state house and five in the senate.[6]
References
- "Rep. Birkeland, Kera - Utah House of Representatives". house.utah.gov. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- "Utah State House - District 53 Election Results". usatoday.com. USA Today. November 3, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- "Meet the RNC Delegate: Kera Birkeland". Cleveland Magazine. July 12, 2016.
- Larsen, Andy (January 26, 2021). "Resolution 'honoring Donovan Mitchell over Shaquille O'Neal' passes in Utah House of Representatives by 67-5 vote". sltrib.com. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- "Transgender athlete bill to return for 2022 Utah Legislature". AP News. AP.
- Winslow, Ben (March 22, 2022). "Utah's governor vetoes transgender sports bill, legislature will override". KSTU.