Democrat Ron Draper is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Bridger Bolinder in the race to represent Utah’s House District 29.
The district includes parts of Tooele, Millard and Juab counties.
Bolinder has served in the Legislature since 2023. Draper is a family nurse practitioner who has sat on the Millard County School Board for 16 years.
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?
Bridger Bolinder: Did not answer.
Ron Draper: Yes, we should be exploring alternative sources. In my district, IPP Renewed is moving forward with this. We should continue supporting these efforts.
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?
Bolinder: Did not answer.
Draper: We need to continue to explore all water uses and long-term overall outcomes. We need to be specific and detailed. Short-term one-size-fits-all efforts are often ultimately ineffective.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Bolinder: Did not answer.
Draper: The housing crisis is complex. We need to support policies that look at the initial causes of the lack of affordable housing. Supporting families, education, and healthcare will put more people in a position to afford adequate 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?
Bolinder: Did not answer.
Draper: No.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Bolinder: Did not answer.
Draper: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Bolinder: Did not answer.
Draper: We need to support women and families in their decisions on how to achieve desired reproductive outcomes.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Bolinder: Did not answer.
Draper: I’m against this proposed amendment. We need to increase our support for public education not diminish it or make it subject to the annual whims of the legislature.
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?
Bolinder: Did not answer.
Draper: No.
