Republican Utah Senate candidate Trent Staggs has taken a tough stance against progressive ideas on environmental, social, and governance (also known as ESG) issues during his campaign.
But some may argue that his past is against him, as he previously served on the board of an ESG-focused company trying to stop climate change.
Stags — The current mayor of Riverton, Utah, is in a close race in the Republican primary. He has repeatedly zeroed in on renewable energy policies since his candidacy. The ESG movement broadly calls for pulling investment out of the traditional energy industry and redirecting it to other sectors. green energy industry In the fight against global warming.
According to his campaign website“We have been fighting ESG domestically,” Staggs said, “pushing back against harmful ‘woke’ policies like ESG.”
“Mayor Staggs recognized the insidious nature of ESG early on and drafted a resolution prohibiting the City of Riverton from working with organizations that support ESG,” the website adds.
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Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs is running in the May 2023 Senate primary election. (Trent Staggs)
securities and exchange commission According to filings reviewed by Fox News Digital, Staggs served on the board of Dallas-based oil cleanup services company Vivacor from September 2020 to January 2023, and was appointed to the board shortly before announcing his Senate campaign. I resigned from my job.
Vivakor describes itself as “clean energy technology; Companies that focus on ESG During Staggs’ tenure, Vivacor further stated that “we intend to continue our focus on ESG while exploring opportunities to diversify our offerings.”
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The Dallas company characterizes itself as a “socially responsible operator, acquirer, and developer of clean energy technologies and environmental solutions.”
Staggs is running for the seat currently held by Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). (Trent Staggs | Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Staggs said that merely mentioning his past work with Vivakor “does not tell the complete truth.”
“My two-year stint at Vivakor was one of several corporate and consulting assignments combating ESG policy in corporate boardrooms,” Staggs said. “At Vivakor, we successfully advocated for the acquisition of traditional oil and gas assets in the face of ESG.”
“I was one of the few voices on the board fighting hard against ESG,” he continued. “I have seen firsthand the negative effects of financial markets forcing ESG practices on public companies. That is why I am committed to supporting this insidious practice, both in the corporate world and in my capacity as an elected official. I have always been an advocate in the fight against this.”
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Vivakor did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Meanwhile, Utah’s primary election is scheduled for late June. Staggs follows in the footsteps of U.S. Rep. John Curtis, conservative attorney Brent Hatch and former Utah Rep. Brad Wilson. According to the latest opinion poll It was conducted in January by the Deseret News and the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.
