Editor’s Note • This story has been updated with responses from Norm Thurston, who answered the survey after this story was first published on Oct. 17.
Longtime legislator Norm Thurston, R-Provo, wants another term representing Utah’s House District 62.
Thurston, an economist who previously worked as a health policy adviser for the state, as well as a director of the health care statistics office for the then-Utah Department of Health, was first elected in the 2014 general election. He is facing Democrat Kevin Slater, an environmental technician running his first campaign for state office.
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?
Kevin Slater: Yes, technologies exist now to address our clean energy needs. If necessary, government funds should be made available for these technologies.
Norm Thurston: The future of energy dependence requires an all-of-the-above response: cleaner fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables.
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?
Slater: Sustainable farming practices are available. For example, Spain has invested in cheap greenhouses and now provides vegetables for all of Europe. This technology is available now and can be used to create water-sustainable farming.
Thurston: The best way to think about scarce resources in general is to consider the economics of supply and demand. Our historic system of water rights is generally effective, but we need to always consider ways to improve it.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Slater: Ease restrictions on zoning to allow more mixed-use zoning and multifamily housing.
Thurston: This is really a question of supply. As economic conditions make supplying more places for people to live financially viable, prices will adjust. Much of the problem is related to federal inflationary policy.
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?
Slater: No.
Thurston: No
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Slater: No.
Thurston: Did not answer.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Slater: No.
Thurston: No restrictions on fertility treatments.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Slater: There is no need to adjust this requirement
Thurston: This is no longer relevant.
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?
Slater: No.
Thurston: Did not answer.
