After two years at Snow College and an LDS mission to Lansing, Mich., Burridge went to school at the University of the Pacific on a debate scholarship (he won a national debate title while at Snow College), after which he became engaged to Marissa. After marriage, the two spent a year teaching various subjects at a small trade school in rural Japan, then returned to the states for law school in New Orleans.

Shortly thereafter, however, Burridge's father suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with cancer. Burridge transferred to BYU's law school to be with the family for the remaining months of his father's life, and has been here ever since.

"I've grown up here, I know the people that live here," Burridge said. "I know what their priorities are when it comes to education, when it comes to how they spend their money, what they need when it comes to business incentives and paying for their kids' school and missions."

Holland said Burridge's ties to the area, especially BYU, made him the ideal candidate to make inroads into heavily Republican Utah County, and he admires Burridge's success in doing so.

"The guy gets better every day," Holland said. "I get calls from people every day telling me, 'We've got to keep this guy around.'"

When voters look at him, Burridge said he hopes they will see "I'm just like them."

"I'm much like the people of this district," he said. "Most people are young families in this district, people that are just starting their lives. young families that have mortgages, car payments, student loans, their own business. ... I think I identify with a majority of the people of this district a lot better than my opponent, who's a Washington insider, who's a millionaire, and who, quite frankly, is a lot older than I am."

And as for the hot-button issues, Burridge said he reflects the views of the district's residents.

"I will stand up for Utah's social values," he said. "I'm pro-life; I'm also in favor of protecting traditional marriage."

If elected, Burridge's priorities would include securing more money for transportation infrastructure, making tax cuts available to the working class, and working toward creating more affordable health care.

But win or lose, Holland said the party plans on keeping Burridge around for a long time to come.

"He's going to be an exciting candidate for Utah in future races," Holland said, "whether it's for re-election or another race as challenger."

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E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com