ABOUT LAVAR CHRISTENSEN
A Family History of Public Service
LaVar’s roots go deep in Utah. His great, great grandfather was a member of Utah’s first Territorial House of Representatives and the first Salt Lake City Council, which established the City’s early water and lighting systems. His Father James L. Christensen, was Mayor of Upland, California and a prominent public servant in Southern California during the time of Governor Ronald Reagan. LaVar’s family is from Utah and Sanpete Counties and his wife Sue’s family are from Carbon County.
Education and Business Experience
LaVar Christensen is an attorney and small business owner with a broad legal and business background. He has a deep respect for our Constitution and founding principles. LaVar served a volunteer church mission to Colorado and Kansas. He received his B.A. degree from BYU and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California. While in Law School, he was a Legislative Assistant for the Governor of California and a Judicial Law Clerk.
Family and Community Involvement
LaVar is married to Susan Kay Christensen. They have three children: Kenny, married to Elizabeth Lee; Karen, married to Lincoln Scoffield; and Jeff, a college student. LaVar and Sue have four grandchildren and another on the way! LaVar has always been active in his church and community. He has high school teaching experience and has enjoyed serving as a mock trial coach for students in the Jordan School District. For many years he coached youth baseball teams in Sandy and Draper.
Prior Legislative Service
LaVar Christensen served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2002-2006. His responsibilities included: Vice-Chair of Education Committee, member of the Budget Appropriations Committee for Public Education, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee; Chair of Judicial Rules Review Committee and member of the Constitutional Revision Commission.
LaVar is the author and sponsor of Utah’s Constitutional Amendment in support of marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman. It passed by a 2/3 majority in the Legislature and was adopted by the voters in 2004. (It is now Utah Law as reflected in Article I, Section 29 of the Utah State Constitution). LaVar also successfully sponsored important legislation that recognizes and strengthens parental rights in Utah as well as civic and character education in our public schools. He passed legislation, which granted township legal recognition to White City in our District. He also increased the criminal penalties for smuggling illegal drugs into our prisons and correctional facilities while also obtaining much needed funding for added prevention resources. LaVar was named Statesman of the Year by the Salt Lake County Republican Party and received “Guardian of Small Business” and “Friend of the Taxpayer” awards while serving in the Legislature.