Over the course of the last decade, once-reliably Republican Sandy has been shifting more and more Democratic.
Rep. Steve Eliason won his House seat in 2010, and during his time in the Legislature, Eliason has promoted legislation dealing with Utah’s mental health crisis. But has had some close calls in the reelection campaigns, winning by just 77 votes in 2020. His 2022 bid was a more comfortable 2,200-vote win.
This time around his challenger is Democrat Jason Barber, a professional mediator and first-time candidate. Barber is campaigning on improving early childhood education and housing affordability.
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?
Barber: Utah should be wisely and responsibly developing and implementing more sustainable forms of energy through solar, wind and nuclear energy.
Eliason: 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?
Barber: We must collaborate with all stakeholders to conserve water and to ensure the protection of the Great Salt Lake.
Eliason: Did not respond.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Barber: We must undertake all efforts to construct more single-family starter homes, give smaller housing builders a seat at the table to increase competition, and support legislation that protects higher wages for Utah’s workers.
Eliason: 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?
Barber: No.
Eliason: Did not respond.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Barber: No.
Eliason: Did not respond.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Barber: Absolutely not.
Eliason: 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?
Barber: I am voting against Amendment A. We must do everything to ensure that we support and defend the longstanding constitutional protections for education funding in Utah.
Eliason: 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?
Barber: No.
Eliason: Did not respond.
Correction • Oct. 18, 4:06 p.m.: The story has been updated to reflect that Eliason won his 2020 race by 77 votes.
