Senior Advisor to the Governor | State of Utah
Salt Lake County Councilmember | Salt Lake County
When you think of a government official, odds are good you think about someone lofty and distant. But despite her titles, at her core, Aimee Winder Newton is a mom who cares. She’s also the owner of multiple businesses, a board member for several councils and commissions designed to provide for Utahns, the first communications director for Taylorsville, a former COO, and even a former candidate for governor.
So what makes Newton different? “I have a fire in the belly to fight for someone who needs me,” Newton says.
When Newton’s daughter was two, doctors discovered a tumor on her brain stem. She survived two brain surgeries but was left having to relearn motor skills and endure obstacles with her eyes and balance. “I was only 25 years old, and I was making decisions and learning to take some risks,” Newton says. As Newton advocated for her daughter, she “learned to listen to instincts, to rely on [her] gut, to be curious about things, and to learn” in ways that not only changed her daughter’s life but also prepared Newton for a lifetime of advocacy.
Later, one of Newton’s sons approached her and shared his struggles with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. “That was the first time I thought, ‘I’m on the county council, and even I don’t know who to call,’” Newton says. She dove into making changes for other families in similar situations. With help from government officials, Newton passed national legislation to create the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Familiar with her own postpartum depression, Newton continues to advocate for mental health resources for families.
While not every cause that Newton fights for is so personal, she can’t help but take care of others. Newton works with everyone, including those across the aisle, to “fight for the little guy and be a voice for the voiceless.” She strives to help families break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, started an online class to teach women how to get involved in government, and participates in legislation to help Utah families.
That passion and drive wouldn’t come without knowing what matters most. Newton’s parents taught her to “take a time in your life to give back,” and Newton is dedicating her life to following that advice. To Main Page