Democrat incumbent Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost is running to keep her seat as the House Representative for District 22.
Dailey-Provost has served in the Utah House of Representatives since 2019. She is the current minority whip. Republican Steve Harmsen is running against Dailey-Provost.
Utah’s House District 22 includes Salt Lake City east of 300 West and north of 500 South.
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?
Jennifer L. Dailey-Provost: Yes, we should utilize all current research to find better alternatives and collaborate with communities and businesses to do better in this area.
Steve Harmsen: We need to develop a long-term plan to convert generation facilities to natural gas, which is commercially feasible, and later to nuclear when feasible.
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?
Dailey-Provost: Yes, this is one of the most critical issues we are facing. In addition to subsidizing homeowner’s efforts, we should work on agricultural efficiency, protecting our watershed, and more to ensure future generations can call Utah home.
Harmsen: Programs to assist property owners to retain and use rainwater. High water prices are NOT the only way. Paying farmers to grow more water-efficient crops.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Dailey-Provost: I want to work to curb large out-of-state developers from buying up housing and land and then charging Utahns exorbitant prices to live there. We should also continue to support and grow programs to support first-time homebuyers.
Harmsen: Serious drug enforcement policies, mental health changes that allow for intervention under serious repeat situations and tiny homes for legitimate homeless who are not using drugs and committing crime.
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?
Dailey-Provost: No.
Harmsen: No.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, during a special legislative session, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Dailey-Provost: No.
Harmsen: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Dailey-Provost: Absolutely not. Reproductive health decisions should always remain between a doctor and a patient.
Harmsen: No.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Dailey-Provost: I will be voting against it. As a state, we are not doing enough to support our teachers and students. Removing a guaranteed funding source will only take us further from our goals of bettering education.
Harmsen: For. The professional lobbyists have gamed the system and the legislature needs a freer hand.
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?
Dailey-Provost: No.
Harmsen: Yes.
