Kera Yates Birkeland is hoping to keep her seat representing Utah’s House District 4, which includes Morgan, Rich and Summit counties. She’s had the job since she was appointed in 2020, and is running against Democrat challenger Kris Campbell this election cycle.
The two candidates also faced off in the 2022 general election, with Birkeland winning the contest and garnering nearly 58% of votes.
Last legislative session, Birkeland sponsored a controversial bill that became law that mandates transgender Utahns must use restrooms and locker rooms that align with their sex assigned at birth when they are in government buildings.
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?
Kera Yates Birkeland: Did not answer.
Kris Campbell: To protect our economic future, keep people healthy and steward our resources wisely, our energy should mostly come from diverse sustainable sources.
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?
Birkeland: Did not answer.
Campbell: Utah can manage the full water cycle wisely: From using cover crops and water banking in agriculture and reducing water runoff and evaporation in urban environs to water-wise landscaping and encouraging people and organizations to conserve water.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Birkeland: Did not answer.
Campbell: I support policies that improve zoning for more flexible housing options like accessory dwelling units (ADUs). I also would give local communities control to fairly limit and regulate short-term rentals to ensure that the housing supply is sufficient for that community’s needs.
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?
Birkeland: Did not answer.
Campbell: No.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Birkeland: Did not answer.
Campbell: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Birkeland: Did not answer.
Campbell: I believe women should have the same medical rights that men have to make personal decisions about their health care free from government intrusion.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Birkeland: Did not answer.
Campbell: I am voting “NO” on Amendment A because it would allow the Legislature to underfund our kids’ education by taking money from the classroom to spend elsewhere. We need to invest in our economic future by investing in our kids’ education.
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?
Birkeland: Did not answer.
Campbell: No.
Correction, Oct. 17, 9:50 a.m. • The story has been updated to reflect the counties contained in Utah’s House District 4.
