Lew Jeppson wants Utah to support the development of wind and solar farms and join other states to sue commercial investors in housing.
The Democrat is challenging incumbent Rep. Melissa Ballard, a Republican, for the Utah House District 20 seat representing part of Davis County.
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?
Ballard: Did not answer.
Lew E. Jeppson: Yes, Utah has not come close to doing what other states are doing with wind farms and large solar farms. Utah should encourage such development.
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?
Ballard: Did not answer.
Jeppson: Homeowner water use is literally a drop in the bucket. Water should be diverted from commercial agriculture to feed the lake. Utah state government has the authority to do this as water is public property in Utah.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Ballard: Did not answer.
Jeppson: In conjunction with other states, bring legal action against commercial speculators in housing.
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?
Ballard: Did not answer.
Jeppson: No.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Ballard: Did not answer.
Jeppson: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Ballard: Did not answer.
Jeppson: Leave in vitro fertilization as it is.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Ballard: Did not answer.
Jeppson: Against. I support public education. I also believe in giving public school teachers more autonomy in designing their curricula.
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?
Ballard: Did not answer.
Jeppson: No.
