After four terms in the House, Republican Rep. Susan Pulsipher is retiring from her South Jordan seat, creating an opening that Republican Tracy Miller and Democrat Sara Cimmers are hoping to fill.
Miller is a mother of three who previously worked in healthcare administration. Priorities on her campaign website include local control, economic development and quality education.
Cimmers spent 15 years as a special education teacher and administrator and now works as a realtor. She wants to bring compassion back to governance and empower future leaders.
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?
Cimmers: Yes. Successful models nationwide show states transitioning to renewable energy while maintaining strong job markets and keeping energy affordable.
Miller: 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?
Cimmers: Yes. Utah should expand subsidies for homeowners. Additionally, we should explore solutions such as modernizing agricultural infrastructure and implementing water reuse strategies to promote sustainable usage and ensure long-term water availability.
Miller: Did not respond.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Cimmers: I would support building affordable condominiums rather than apartments; increasing housing subsidies; and fostering collaboration between municipalities to create unified, strategic solutions for housing affordability.
Miller: 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?
Cimmers: No.
Miller: Did not respond.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Cimmers: No.
Miller: Did not respond.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Cimmers: No. These are deeply personal and complex medical decisions that should be made by patients and medical professionals, not by the government.
Miller: 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?
Cimmers: I’m voting against Amendment A. Until education in Utah is adequately funded, we cannot afford to create loopholes that divert resources away from our schools. Our kids and teachers deserve better and we must protect the future of public education.
Miller: 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?
Cimmers: No.
Miller: Did not respond.
