Logan Walker Taggart is an American politician born on May 18, 1995, in Fort Collins, Colorado, a member of the and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a city councilman, Taggart was assigned to multiple committees, including the Police and Code Enforcement Committee, the Streets and Alleys Committee, the Water and Sewer Committee, and the Budget and Finance Committee. His extensive committee involvement was part of Mayor Fitzgerald's strategy to provide him with comprehensive experience. Taggart assisted in drafting marijuana ordinance following its state legalization, overseeing the city's compliance with the new law. He also helped draft the 2014 city budget. He faced criticism and a police escort from a heated town meeting when he voted for the removal of a historic tree that was causing drainage issues. Taggart's duties also included hiring a new town marshal and municipal judge, as well as being a part of the dismissal of a town marshal. While serving as a board trustee, Logan crafted new sound blocks for both the mayor and the municipal court from oak harvested by his grandfather on a family farm near Adel, Iowa. Taggart's woodworking skills were featured in the local paper. Mayoral campaign and Chamber of Commerce involvement In 2014, Taggart ran for Mayor of La Veta as the incumbent Mayor Fitzgerald did not seek re-election. Taggart's campaign focused on local economic development, job creation, and infrastructure improvements. His opponent, former Mayor Doug Brgoch, entered the race just before the deadline. Although Taggart performed strongly, the election was marred by age-related biases and ultimately resulted in Brgoch's victory. Following his mayoral bid, Taggart's efforts caught the attention of the La Veta Cuchara Chamber of Commerce, now the Spanish Peaks Chamber of Commerce. Impressed by his community engagement and business outreach, the Chamber appointed him as Secretary and later as Vice president. During his tenure, Taggart successfully increased Chamber membership, led efforts to revitalize La Veta's Main Street, and organized the Stonewall Century Ride, a grueling 100-mile bike race in Colorado. Additionally, he organized and led the La Veta Independence Day parade in 2015 and 2016 and led a campaign to adopt a town slogan. Taggart participated in the Independence Day parades he organized, on one occasion dressing as Uncle Sam in a pro legal immigration float along with his sister Keeley portraying Lady Liberty. Legislative campaign and education In 2020, Logan Taggart ran for the Colorado House of Representatives District 62 seat, challenging incumbent Democrat Donald Valdez. His campaign began with a primary contest against Steven Rodriguez, whom he defeated with nearly 70% of the vote. During the general election, Taggart and Valdez engaged in debates on key issues including abortion, rural healthcare, gun rights, energy policy, and jobs. Taggart emphasized concerns about government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, and support for rural lifestyles, agriculture, and water resources. Logan chose the slogan "Local Values First" for his campaign, a dig at his opponent whose voting record closely aligned with Denver legislators. Taggart's campaign was notable for its extensive outreach efforts. He also gained support from Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, with whom he developed a friendship. The two frequently appeared together at rallies and events. Although Taggart did not unseat Valdez, he achieved the highest number of votes at the time, ever recorded for a Republican candidate in that district. Education and mentorship Taggart attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii, where he earned a degree in Business Management with a focus on Finance and Economics, a second major in Intercultural Peacebuilding (led by Chad Ford), a minor in Political Science, and a certificate in Mediation. At BYU-Hawaii, he was recognized as the Outstanding Student in Finance and served as the president of the Economics Club. He was closely mentored by economist Dr. Gale Pooley, author of "Superabundance." He later pursued graduate studies at the University of Utah, earning a MRED Master's in Real Estate Development and a Master's of Science in Finance. During his undergraduate studies, he worked as a Business Law Teaching Assistant under Gregory Gibson Esq. Personal life Politically, he identifies as a conservative, influenced by libertarianism and neoliberal ideas. His high school graduation quote, drawn from Richard Nixon, reflects his longstanding engagement with political thought His parents are Christal Renee Mead and James Craig Taggart. His father, Craig Taggart, is a distinguished landscape architect and environmental manager who helped plan part of the Pacific Crest Trail while working for the BLM, later EDAW, and then as the environmental manager of the Forbes/Trinchera Ranch where he was noted for his innovative work in developing environmentally sustainable coalbed methane fields and as a founding member of the Western Land Owners Alliance.
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