Incumbent House Minority Leader Rep. Angela Romero, who’s held the seat since 2013, faces avian expert Richard Nowa to represent House District 25 in the Utah House of Representatives.
Nowak runs Avian Sanctuary and Protection, a bird rehabilitation and education center in West Valley City. He was arrested in 2022 for suspected destruction of protected wildlife after the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources seized more than 80 birds — and euthanized most of them — due to concerns about avian flu, according to reporting from KSL. Court records contain no charges against him.
Romero is the top-ranking Democratic in the Utah House and has served in the Legislature for over a decade.
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?
Richard Nowak: Yes, more solar and thermal sources should be utilized.
Angela Romero: The state of Utah needs to invest in cleaner energy sources that benefit all Utahns, which are fiscally responsible and environmentally sustainable.
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?
Nowak: City ordinances should be changed to allow zeroscape to conserve water and rain barrels should be available.
Romero: Utah should do a lot more to promote water conservation. We need to continue to work with municipalities to reduce landscape water usage. This also means incorporating water efficiency with new commercial and residential construction.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Nowak: Regulate builders.
Romero: Utah needs to build for density by streamlining zoning regulations and incentivizing affordable housing projects through tax breaks. We also should reign in short term rentals to increase rental inventory for residents.
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?
Nowak: No.
Romero: No.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Nowak: No.
Romero: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Nowak: It needs regulations to ensure safety and health.
Romero: I don’t support any restrictions on reproductive health care.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Nowak: Against. There needs to be a guaranteed amount for education.
Romero: I’m voting against Amendment A. Linking this tax change to public education funding is a fatal and irreversible mistake. The legislature can lower the state sales tax on food without risking the money meant for our public schools.
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?
Nowak: No.
Romero: No.
