Voters are getting a rematch of a 2022 contest in House District 47, which covers parts of Riverton and Bluffdale.
Incumbent Rep. Mark Strong has held the seat for three terms and is seeking a fourth. During his time in office, Strong has been a solidly conservative member of the Republican caucus.
In 2023, Strong criticized one school district for removing The Bible from shelves, saying it was “accepting the religion of atheism and hedonism.” And in 2021, Strong invited his colleagues to hear from a Texas doctor who discouraged coronavirus vaccines.
He faces off once again against David Lundgren, the United Utah Party nominee who lost to Strong — 70% to 30% — in 2022.
On his campaign Website, Lundgren calls himself a former business owner who stayed home to raise his child. He opposes a program by the Legislature to subsidize new home purchases, which he said is a giveaway to homebuilders.
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?
Lundgren: With the inversion problem we have, sustainable, non-pollutant energy needs to be a priority rather than making choices based on profit.
Strong: Did not respond.
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?
Lundgren: The biggest step we could take in water conservancy is to be realistic in zoning new properties, particularly housing. We simply cannot pretend we have water that we don’t just to appease real estate developers.
Strong: Did not respond.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Lundgren: The short-term solution would involve more lower-cost housing so families could get starter homes more readily. The long-term solution is better education so we don’t have to import labor for our high-tech jobs.
Strong: Did not respond.
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?
Lundgren: Did not respond.
Strong: Did not respond.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Lundgren: Did not respond.
Strong: Did not respond.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Lundgren: Did not respond.
Strong: Did not respond.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Lundgren: I will vote against that amendment since education funding needs to be protected. Whenever there is a financial shortage in the state budget, education is the first place cuts are made.
Strong: Did not respond.
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?
Lundgren: No.
Strong: Did not respond.
