Incumbent Rep. Doug Owens, a Salt Lake Democrat and two-time Congressional candidate, is running to keep his seat in Utah’s House District 33.
His challenger is Republican Sheryl Fraser, a former American Red Cross operations manager.
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?
Sheryl Fraser: We must support nuclear, wind, solar, oil and gas. We need a balance between these sources based on dependability, and economic and environmental impact.
Doug Owens: Did not answer.
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?
Fraser: I support incentives for waterless landscaping, for instance. We should balance water conservation with finding opportunities for additional water sources, transporting water from mountain sources and funding for developing water treatments.
Owens: Did not answer.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Fraser: Let’s look at vacant properties owned by investment companies. We could limit the number of vacant properties allowed and/or require efforts to sell or rent these vacant properties.
Owens: Did not answer.
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?
Fraser: No.
Owens: Did not answer.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Fraser: No.
Owens: Did not answer.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Fraser: No.
Owens: Did not answer.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Fraser: I will vote against this. I think the Legislature needs to be specific about what the money would be used for before we change the requirement.
Owens: Did not answer.
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?
Fraser: Yes.
Owens: Did not answer.
