As the Senate minority leader, Luz Escamilla is one of the most powerful Democrats in the state.
Republicans chose Kyle Erb — who says on his website he believes “the primary responsibility for meeting basic needs rests with individuals, families, and voluntary charitable organizations” — to challenge the senator who has held a seat in the Legislature since 2009.
Escamilla has won every legislative general election she has competed in by double digits, and — whether due to constituent satisfaction, increasing name recognition or redistricting — has seen her margin of victory grow term after term since 2012. The longtime lawmaker has also mounted unsuccessful campaigns for Salt Lake City mayor and against former U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, a Republican who represented the 2nd Congressional District.
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?
Kyle Erb: I believe all sources of electricity should be explored if we want to continue to have inexpensive energy. Coal will likely get more expensive.
Luz Escamilla: Yes, we need to diversify Utah’s portfolio of energy, increasing renewable sources, i.e. solar, wind, hydroelectric and bioenergy.
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?
Erb: Much of our water is committed to California. California has a ton of solar that could be used for desalinization, as they are next to the ocean. We should negotiate better terms with other states.
Escamilla: Utah is one of the driest and fastest-growing states. We need compact development, xeriscaping and overwatering restrictions. We should also support agriculture with innovative irrigation tools and promote transparency about water costs statewide.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, at the Capitol, on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Erb: Reclaim federal land. Find out what people want to purchase. Building more apartments doesn’t lower the cost of single-family homes, if that is what people want. Remove subsidies for building high density, and ask what people want.
Escamilla: All levels of government must coordinate to address housing affordability as Utah grows. Key priorities: increasing housing supply, encouraging density, supporting first-time homebuyers and implementing moderate-income housing plans.
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?
Erb: Yes.
Escamilla: No.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Erb: No.
Escamilla: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Erb: IVF should have some limitations on the maturity of fertilized eggs.
Escamilla: No, the government should not intrude on any personal medical decisions that should be made between a licensed medical provider and a patient.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Erb: Did not answer.
Escamilla: Amendment A threatens public school funding, using tax dollars for political interests without accountability. Utahns shouldn’t have to choose between education and food sales tax relief. I will be voting no.
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?
Erb: Did not answer.
Escamilla: No.
