State Rep. Raymond Ward, a Republican, hopes to propose bills to address housing and accountability around water — if he’s reelected.
Ward, the incumbent in Utah House District 18 representing part of Davis County, faces challenges from Constitution Party candidate Cameron Dransfield and Democrat Nick Wadsworth.
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?
Cameron Dransfield: Did not answer.
Nick Wadsworth: Did not answer.
Raymond Ward: I support Utah’s “all of the above” approach to energy. I think this is the best pathway to reliable and renewable energy.
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?
Dransfield: Did not answer.
Wadsworth: Did not answer.
Ward: The state has invested a lot in making water use more efficient. We need good feedback on those programs to know if they are working, and I have a bill file open to have that information reported.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Dransfield: Did not answer.
Wadsworth: Did not answer.
Ward: We should reduce government interventions that make it expensive and difficult to build smaller housing units. We should allow accessory dwelling units, and we should allow smaller lots for single-family homes. (I have a bill file open for this)
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?
Dransfield: Did not answer.
Wadsworth: Did not answer.
Ward: Did not answer.
State Rep. Raymond Ward, a Republican, is running for reelection to Utah House District 19.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Dransfield: Did not answer.
Wadsworth: Did not answer.
Ward: Did not answer.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Dransfield: Did not answer.
Wadsworth: Did not answer.
Ward: No. In vitro fertilization is an important way that people can have children.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Dransfield: Did not answer.
Wadsworth: Did not answer.
Ward: I am voting for it. The two main forms of income to the state are the sales tax and income tax. I think it is reasonable that the legislature be able to use both of those streams of income as best they can for the needs of the state.
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?
Dransfield: Did not answer.
Wadsworth: Did not answer.
Ward: No.
