Promising to return "sanity, compassion and reason" to the state Legislature, the son-in-law of Hugh Nibley announced his bid Thursday to run for public office.

Boyd Petersen said he plans to run for office as a socially conservative Democrat in District 64 against incumbent Rep. Rebecca Lockhart, R-Provo. He said he believes in a full spectrum of values, supporting life, health, education, compassion and public morality.

He also said current state politicians' agendas are incongruent with those who put them in office.

"I believe that the current Utah Valley legislators are largely out of touch with their constituency," he said.

Petersen said he will work to improve public education and provide affordable health care for all families if elected.

Petersen teaches for the honors program at Brigham Young University, as well as at Utah Valley State College. He earned a doctorate at the University of Utah in 2006.

He is also the author of an award-winning biography, titled "Hugh Nibley: A Consecrated Life." Nibley was the father of Petersen's wife, Zina.