Draper voter guide 2023

City Council

At large

Voters will select up to three candidates.

Lucky T. Bovo

Occupation: Professional pilot/business owner.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

As a candidate running for Draper City Council, I believe that addressing affordable housing is crucial for the well-being of our residents. I support implementing a multipronged approach to provide more affordable housing options. This includes promoting higher-density housing in appropriate areas to accommodate our growing population and create more housing opportunities.

However, while affordable housing remains a priority, the most pressing issue that requires immediate attention is supporting the legislation I introduced in Utah for Defend the Guard. This legislation aims to protect the rights and well-being of our National Guard members. By securing their rights, we ensure their service is valued, which in turn enhances our community’s overall security and safety.

Balancing both objectives is essential, and as a responsible representative, I am committed to addressing affordable housing concerns while actively supporting legislation that protects our dedicated National Guard members. We can create a stronger and more inclusive community for all Draper residents.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

As a highly decorated, combat-proven and honorably discharged helicopter pilot who has experienced homelessness firsthand, I would make my top priority addressing the urgent need for more affordable housing options for our residents. To achieve this, I firmly support the implementation of higher-density housing initiatives, which would enable us to make more efficient use of available land and resources.

However, I recognize the interconnectedness of homelessness and mental health issues, and I will advocate for comprehensive programs that prioritize mental health support. By combining higher-density housing and mental health initiatives, we can create a compassionate, cost-effective solution that resonates with the community and garners widespread approval.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

No response.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I am a professional helicopter and airplane pilot, and a passionate paragliding pilot, telemark skier and snowboarder.

Jordan Davis

Occupation: Private music teacher/choir director.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

Affordable housing is such an issue to our residents here in Draper. Housing prices just keep shooting up, and we are actually pricing out our own native residents. This is unacceptable. I think making sure that developers are building housing that is more affordable is extremely important. Zoning laws can be quite confusing, but I would support zoning land that is soon to be developed into affordable housing. Therefore the land developers and real estate agents can still make money while not pricing out our residents. We want to bring the best and brightest into Draper, but right now they can’t afford to live here. I think everyone who would like to should be able to become homeowners in Draper and not have to rely on high-density housing. Let’s make homes affordable first and foremost.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

Currently, Draper does not have a large homelessness issue, which makes it much easier to manage compared to larger cities. Helping the homeless get the right treatment and get back onto their feet is extremely important to me and it helps our own community stay safe. We need to make sure shelter is affordable here in Draper. Many who are homeless in Utah are employed but live in cars because they can’t afford a home. We need to make sure there are more affordable options available, get them the right medical treatment, and make sure our people are safe and not unheard in their struggles.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

Draper has grown a considerable amount in the past 10 years, but its infrastructure has not grown at the same rate. It’s becoming difficult to travel around the city and traffic on surface streets is getting worse. We need to address this problem while it’s still manageable by exploring options, including bike lanes, utilizing our robust system of city trails, road improvements and stronger public transit.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I appeared on “Jeopardy!” in March of this year (purple hair and all).

Bryn Heather Johnson

Occupation: Stay-at-home-mom/student.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

Draper recently released an update to the housing section of its master plan. The update addresses some of the issues of adequate housing that face Draper residents. I support the measures outlined in the updated plan that include some higher-density housing in areas of the city that have or will have infrastructure that can support such housing plans.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

Providing resources for Utah’s unsheltered is a complex and highly debated topic. Many support services are provided by county and state agencies, and Draper can coordinate with them to provide assistance when needed. Some support services that Draper already has are businesses for employment opportunities, doctor offices for health care needs and public transit stations to ease transportation concerns.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

Traffic congestion in Draper is a big concern for most Draper residents. Because there are multiple agencies in control of our streets, I would coordinate with city, state and county officials to look at various solutions to current traffic flow problems. I would also prioritize making sure that new construction and development are coupled with adequate infrastructure.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

A bucket-list item was to visit all 50 states before I turned 50, and I did it.

Fred Lowry

Occupation: President, Lowry & Associates.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

We work collaboratively as a council to comply with state law governing affordable housing while also protecting the best interest of current residents. As we seek ways to make Draper affordable, we seek not to detract from aspects of our community that have been fostered over many decades.

Last year, the council commissioned a study to improve the data available to us regarding affordable housing in Draper. This will allow us to continue making informed decisions as we grow that preserves the quality of life to which we are accustomed.

After the study, we amended Draper’s affordable housing plan, as required by state law. In this plan, we unanimously agreed to six strategies to improve affordable housing. These strategies encourage efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing in central areas of the city that are linked to key commercial and transit zones.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

Homelessness is a difficult and timely issue for many communities across the Wasatch Front. I believe this issue requires collaboration by state and local leaders, and I applaud those working to solve this problem in Utah and along the Wasatch Front. It isn’t something that can be solved by one city.

By working together, we can reduce the overall number of homeless individuals while also helping to contain the surge within its current areas. For the more urban areas of our state that deal with this issue daily, support services — such as mental health and drug treatment programs — are needed as well as strong law enforcement.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

In Draper, the biggest challenge is actually our biggest opportunity. Much attention has been given to The Point development at the former state prison. This is an exciting project with amazing potential. However, it must be developed appropriately.

I support local control as it is closest to the people. As a council, our duty is to ensure Draper priorities are integrated into what is being considered and proposed by The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority. Given that the state currently owns this land where the prison once sat, it is a key partner in the development. If reelected, I will continue working diligently to ensure this development project is consistent with the values and expectations of Draper and its residents.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I love all things outdoors, and I am passionate about supporting mental and emotional health in our community.

Cal Roberts

Occupation: Small-business owner/private equity.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

I do not support more high-density housing in Draper. Managing growth is a balancing act. We must balance the property rights of landowners wishing to develop their land as they see fit with the rights of neighbors who must deal with the consequences of new development. Furthermore, while we see the challenges of more density in the community we love, we also see poorly planned suburban sprawl contributing to traffic and air quality problems. If we are to address the housing affordability challenges, we must calibrate our housing policy to focus on developing the “missing middle,” not more high-density housing.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

I support the recent law that tasks mayors and the county to select winter emergency overflow shelters.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

Local control of land use policy. I support our state representatives’ efforts to address the housing crisis, and I support a robust view of property rights (new homeowners and existing homeowners); however, I do not support top-down, “one-size-fits-all” solutions that do not allow adequate room for local decision-making. Your voice ought to determine the character of your community, not distant politicians unfamiliar with the diverse and varied needs of our neighborhoods. Any housing policy must carefully calibrate the balance between the housing affordability crisis with quality of life, existing property rights and local zoning and planning authority concerns.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

When I’m not working or serving Draper on the City Council, I love spending time with my two little boys.

Terry Smith

Occupation: Retired entrepreneur.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

There is nothing wrong with high-density housing. Everyone has the right to live where they would like to live, or better, what they can afford at this time in their lives. The real question is, where would they develop the units, or the zero-lot-line housing units?

There is certainly a demand for multiple units. They do not take a whole lot of land to house hundreds of families. Look at the development in southeast Draper, referring to the Point of View apartments. This was an excellent choice for both Draper and the developer.

I state this because it was approved for development because of the location where it did not encroach on the community. This development provided an excellent view of the city where hundreds of tenants enjoy a beautiful view daily. In reference to the zero single lot line, same thing. They do not consume a whole lot of land but provide an excellent option for controlled expansion and affordable to those who do not have the means to purchase a third of an acre. These types of developments are warranted and needed for Draper to grow. Growth is good, change is progression. However, location is everything.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to unhoused Utahns?

I do not believe this is a city’s responsibility to remedy the homeless, but it is a moral responsibility. Homelessness is an incredibly sad thing to happen to anyone. Sometimes people fall victim without any choice of their own. A couple of scenarios would be a disrupted household where someone must leave and has nowhere to go. On the other side of the ball is an addict who is seriously ill.

My take is that each scenario must be treated differently, depending on the downfall of the individual in the unfortunate situation. I do not believe that the city should bear the burden of a homeless addict. However, I believe that someone who is in deep trouble and needs a helping hand to regain traction in life should be helped.

What is a fun or unique fact about you?

I am a door opener. I always open doors for women, men and children, and I opened the door by providing jobs for people who have worked for me. I just like opening doors. I open barn doors, tractor doors, car doors, restaurant doors, office building doors, and I always like opening doors for people entering a grocery store. “Here, let me get the door for you” as I step on the door opening mat and usher them in with my hand. These doors are my favorite because I do not have to touch anything. I respect all people and try to leave a positive mark on them every day.