Incumbent Rep. Stephen L. Whyte is looking to continue his tenure representing Utah’s House District 63. Whyte, a Republican, was first appointed to the legislature in 2021. He was reelected in 2022. This election, he’s facing a challenge from Democrat Mark Youngquist.
Youngquist, a product manager who is running for state office for the first time, attended Utah Valley University. Whyte previously served as an associate vice president and taught courses at Utah Valley University. He currently serves as the vice president of communications and external affairs at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
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?
Stephen L. Whyte: Did not answer.
Mark Youngquist: Yes, absolutely. One great step would be to promote competition against the monopoly of providers — and to support legislation to provide incentives.
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?
Whyte: Did not answer.
Youngquist: I believe homeowners are not the primary user or issue with water conservation. I would offer incentives to our true largest water users — agriculture — to utilize water better. Updating outdated water share laws would go a long way.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Whyte: Did not answer.
Youngquist: I would support policies that help first-time homebuyers, as well as policies that make sure the bulk of homes are purchased and used by primary residents and not investors/short-term rentals.
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?
Whyte: Did not answer.
Youngquist: No.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Whyte: Did not answer.
Youngquist: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Whyte: Did not answer.
Youngquist: Easy answer. Absolutely not.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Whyte: Did not answer.
Youngquist: I am voting against it — Utah is already starving for appropriate funding for education and social services. In speaking with parents and teachers, this would not be a desirable amendment.
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?
Whyte: Did not answer.
Youngquist: No.
