Republican Douglas Welton is running for another term representing Utah’s House District 65, which includes parts of Utah County.
Welton, first elected to the House in 2021, is facing Joseph Hansen in the Democrat’s first campaign for state office. Hansen is a scientist and software engineer.
A former teacher, Welton was elected to the Payson City Council in 2019, before serving in the legislature.
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?
Joseph Hansen: Yes. Continue to invest in solar including in new jobs in related technologies for the towns that have a lot of fossil fuel/carbon-dependent jobs.
Douglas Welton: 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?
Hansen: Yes. Continue to invest and market programs to replace lawns (e.g., with the new hybrid grass) and to replace farmer’s water systems with drip systems.
Welton: Did not answer.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Hansen: I would support policies to both increase the number of housing units being built and ensure home builders are being held accountable for antitrust practices.
Welton: 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?
Hansen: No.
Welton: Did not answer.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Hansen: No.
Welton: Did not answer.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Hansen: No.
Welton: 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?
Hansen: Against. Taxes should be used for the good of the people equally, and with an eye to investing in the future. Removing the requirement, especially in this way and at this time, will simply open the door to financial abuse.
Welton: 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?
Hansen: No.
Welton: Did not answer.
