Republican incumbent Stewart Barlow is running to keep his seat in House District 17, which is part of Davis County in northern Utah. His opponent is Republican Jennifer Garner.
The Salt Lake Tribune sent six questions to 50 candidates across 23 races scheduled for June 25. The Tribune gave these candidates a deadline and word limit, and informed candidates that their answers may be edited for clarity and length. Here is how Barlow and Garner responded.
1. Utah’s largest electricity provider has canceled plans to replace its coal-fired power plants with nuclear power and has walked back comments about investing in clean energy.
Should Utah, while it actively supports housing and business development, also be looking for more sustainable and less fossil fuel and carbon-dependent energy sources?
Stewart Barlow: All of the above: clean energy and fossil fuels. We need a base energy that is reliable.
Jennifer Garner: Utah has tons of resources to be more energy independent. The data isn’t transparent and we can’t make good decisions based off partial data.
2. Yes or no: Is climate change negatively impacting Utah?
Stewart Barlow: No.
Jennifer Garner: Did not give a “yes or no” answer.
3. Should Utah do more to subsidize homeowners to conserve water? Should laws require large users to pay more for water? What other steps should state government take to deal with water scarcity?
Stewart Barlow: Incentives may help our population conserve water, especially as our state continues to grow. If more water is being used they should shoulder some of the expense. Conservation, water banking, seed clouding and importing water are some options.
Jennifer Garner: We have 25 data centers that have been given huge subsidies to come to a desert. They are huge water users, [using] millions of gallons a day to cool servers, and with fewer employees than average. We cannot keep messaging that there is a crisis when it’s being created.
4. Yes or no: Do you support building the Lake Powell Pipeline?
Stewart Barlow: Yes.
Jennifer Garner: I need more information from more sources to make an informed decision.
5. Triggered after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, Utah’s current law bans nearly all abortions — except in instances of sexual crimes, when there is a fatal fetal abnormality, when the mother’s life is at risk. For now, that law is currently on hold in the courts and an 18-week ban is active in Utah.
More or fewer: Should Utah’s trigger law have more or fewer restrictions?
Stewart Barlow: More.
Jennifer Garner: I support life and opportunities for parents to grow their families.
6. For or against: Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services?
Stewart Barlow: For the amendment.
Jennifer Garner: If the income tax is going to he removed, it’s not like the government will just stop spending. I would love no income taxes, [which would] put more dollars into Utahns’ pockets. We need to curb spending, especially in programs where tax dollars are paying for duplicate services through public-private partnerships.
