Mayoral candidates
Lorin Palmer
Occupation: Stay-at-home dad and part-time soccer administrator.
As the Salt Lake Valley continues its booming growth, what are your solutions for affordable housing, preserving community character and creating a high quality of life for city residents?
True affordability can be attained by providing a balance of housing options in our city. In Herriman, we are missing a significant piece of the housing market by not taking care of the “missing middle” … We are not building single-family homes on those 0.15- to 0.25-acres lots. I am not against high-density housing, but by not building a comparable number of single-family homes in the city, there is upward pressure on the pricing of single-family homes, which then causes prices of town homes and condos to also increase. However, the price of a home is not the only factor in affordable housing. Most Herriman residents leave the city for work and for many of their services. There is also a severe lack of accessibility to transit options. All these factors contribute to affordable housing. Herriman needs job centers and services closer to our residents so that not only is living here more affordable, but by spending less time traveling for work and play, the quality of life will also be increased.
Besides affordable housing, what are the two biggest challenges facing the city in the next four years, and what are some specific programs or policy changes you will introduce to solve them?
The two biggest challenges facing the city are economic development/increasing our commercial tax base and building infrastructure (roads, water, parks, trails) to keep up with our growing population. For economic development, Herriman first needs to preserve commercial zoning along major corridors. Herriman also needs to have a mayor who is active and involved with our economic development team in pursuing economic opportunities in the city. We will work with partners at the state level such as the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Salt Lake Chamber as well as local partners such as the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce to promote Herriman as a viable option for a variety of businesses. We will create a hike/bike/arts and dine program to bring people to the area. For infrastructure, we will work with our state and county partners to bring funding to the area. We will work with our regional partners in neighboring cities on ways to synergize our efforts to secure funding and create opportunities in the city. We can work on creating PIDs that will bring infrastructure before development at no additional cost (and no risk) to the city.
What are your ideas for investing federal pandemic aid in the city, including funds left over from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act as well as funds from the American Rescue Plan Act?
Herriman is behind on all aspects of infrastructure. Our primary focus should be on east-west traffic and improving roadways that will allow traffic to move quicker both in and out of the city at peak hours. Main Street west of 6000 West should be first on the list.
What is a fun or unique fact about you?
My kids have a rule that when we go out I can only talk to two new people a day.
Clint Smith
Occupation: Draper fire chief.
As the Salt Lake Valley continues its booming growth, what are your solutions for affordable housing, preserving community character and creating a high quality of life for city residents?
As we’ve seen projects approved many years ago completed in recent years, it’s focused attention on the critical balance of providing diverse housing options and preserving the community and family feel that makes us “Herriman Proud.” I’ve served Herriman residents for 12 years, eight on the Planning Commission and four on the City Council. I’ve gained the experience and reputation to consistently and effectively advocate for our community.
Housing costs are affecting more individuals and families of all ages. Zoning ordinances should continue to support various housing options to meet needs along the income spectrum. That must be balanced with preserving our community character and quality of life.
Prioritizing transportation infrastructure to address traffic is crucial. Decreasing density the closer it is to established neighborhoods, increasing setbacks, limiting rental percentages, requiring adequate parking, offering a better mix of small and large parks, are some ways to strategically address housing and community needs.
Preserving residents’ quality of life involves preserving and enhancing open spaces, including trail connectivity and recreation areas along our south foothills. Herriman is one of very few municipalities nationwide to successfully apply for federal funds, $15 million to date, to preserve open/buffer space around Camp Williams, a huge investment in our open space plan.
Besides affordable housing, what are the two biggest challenges facing the city in the next four years, and what are some specific programs or policy changes you will introduce to solve them?
Staying true to the character of our community through rapid growth is difficult. We must stand firm and focused in maximizing opportunities while minimizing negative impacts.
One of the biggest issues that has drastically impacted Herriman is traffic. We have a lack of transportation infrastructure, primarily east-west corridors. I have worked closely with our state legislators and fought hard, as Herriman’s representative on Wasatch Front Regional Council and transportation committee, to secure funding for and prioritize transportation projects to help alleviate traffic impacts to our residents. Projects include the 13400 South interchange on Bangerter, Connecting 12600 South to Utah 111, and completion of the Mountain View Corridor from Herriman to 2100 North in Utah County. The development of transportation infrastructure will also enable us to attract desperately needed commercial and retail development to support our city into the future.
I will continue working with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah and others to focus on attracting new business to create local opportunities and limit dependence on residential property taxes. We must revamp our process to be more competitive with other cities and be deliberate in developing an economic base capable of sustaining Herriman through economic downturns by attracting quality businesses from diverse sectors.
What are your ideas for investing federal pandemic aid in the city, including funds left over from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act as well as funds from the American Rescue Plan Act?
I’ve advocated for innovative uses of our CARES funding, which provided two stimulus opportunities for local businesses and provided tablets and internet to our seniors to help them stay connected to their families during the pandemic. Rescue plan funds will focus on meeting future internet fiber and water infrastructure needs.
What is a fun or unique fact about you?
I served as Herriman’s interim mayor in 2013 at the same time my father was serving as Draper’s mayor.
City Council candidates
District 2
Aly Escobar
Teddy Hodges
District 3
Sherrie Ohrn (running unopposed)
