Trevor Lee supports policies allowing more coal and drilling, cutting red tape for homebuilders and banning abortion as he runs for reelection.
Lee, a Republican and the incumbent representative for Utah House District 16, faces Democrat Zeaid Hasan for the seat representing parts of Davis County.
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?
Trevor Lee: Whatever is cheapest. We have the cleanest coal in the world and billions worth of reliable, affordable energy under our feet. We need to drill more.
Zeaid Hasan: 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?
Lee: With two great winters, we need to make sure any money spent is actually solving the problem. We should really just charge water on a usage basis.
Hasan: Did not answer.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Lee: I would like to get government out of the way — cut red tape and allow builders to do their job, as well as keep zoning control in the cities.
Hasan: Did not answer.
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?
Lee: Yes.
Hasan: Did not answer.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Lee: Yes.
Hasan: Did not answer.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Lee: No.
Hasan: Did not answer.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Lee: Yes, it will give us more flexibility with the budget while still being able to maintain increases to education every year. This is also important to remove the state tax on food.
Hasan: Did not answer.
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?
Lee: Yes.
Hasan: Did not answer.
