In hopes of representing Taylorsville and West Jordan in the Utah Senate, Republican incumbent Sen. Wayne Harper and independent Monnica Manuel are locked in a race for the seat.
Harper and Manuel disagreed on restricting abortion and funding education in the Beehive State while making their case to voters in Senate District 16.
The Salt Lake Tribune submitted the same set of questions, based on top issues readers said they were watching in this election, to each candidate. The questions and their answers that appear below — with the candidates listed in alphabetical order — may have been edited slightly for length, style or grammar. The questions were sent to candidates before a Utah judge voided multiple amendments from ballots.
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 be looking for more sustainable and less fossil fuel and carbon-dependent energy sources? If so, how?
Wayne Harper: Reliable and low-cost energy is critical. Utah needs to expand its energy-producing options to include small modular reactors.
Monnica Manuel: Yes. Small nuclear energy plants are a viable solution for reducing environmental impact while protecting jobs, providing water is protected.
Water scarcity continues to be a challenge for the state. Recent legislation has attempted to conserve water and to get more water to the Great Salt Lake and Colorado River. Should Utah do more to subsidize homeowners’ efforts to conserve water? What other steps should be taken to deal with water scarcity?
Harper: Utah’s population and water demands will continue to grow. Education, modifying landscaping options and using more efficient home and business water usage are important. Utah relies on snow, and we need more of it.
Manuel: Yes. We should also work to renegotiate water rights. We use incentives to bring economic growth to Utah. Let’s use that ability to get water to the Great Salt Lake.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Harper: Allow cities and developers more options in housing choices while respecting Utah’s existing single-family neighborhoods. Inflation and interest rates that are based on national policies double the cost of housing and must be curtailed.
Manuel: I support policies that increase affordable, purchasable housing supply through appropriate zoning reform, and providing tax credits for first-time homebuyers. We also need to invest in transit-oriented housing to reduce costs for families.
Following the Utah Supreme Court’s recent decision to keep a near-total abortion ban blocked, anti-abortion lawmakers and advocates called for additional legislative action to circumvent the court-ordered injunction. Would you support banning abortion after six weeks?
Harper: Did not answer.
Manuel: No.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Harper: Yes.
Manuel: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Harper: Did not answer.
Manuel: I do not believe that it is the government’s place to make health care choices for women. I trust women and their doctors to make their own choices.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Harper: Yes. Utah should not be the only state that limits educational funding to one tax revenue source.
Manuel: Against. The Legislature is using deceptive language on ballot measures designed to mislead voters. Public education dollars should remain protected.
A Utah judge has voided Amendment D and said votes for or against it cannot be counted, but the state is appealing. Do you support changing the Utah Constitution to guarantee that the Legislature can repeal or amend ballot initiatives?
Harper: Did not answer.
Manuel: No.
