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Show A-8 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, October 17-19, 2018 Election 2018 Election 2018 Election 2018 Election 2018 Election 2018 Election 2018 Election 2018 Electio According to the Summit County Clerk’s Office, ballots for the Nov. 6 election are set to begin arriving by mail on Friday, Oct. 19. Ballots returned through the mail must be postmarked by Nov. 5. Residents can register to vote online or at the Clerk’s Office through Oct. 30. Same-day registration will also be available at four voting assistance centers throughout the county on Election Day. Visit co.summit.ut.us/270/Clerk for more information. ROB BISHOP REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT Q. Q. The U.S. and Utah economies continue to perform well a decade after the depths of the recession. Please discuss what you see as the state of the economy and whether you foresee any dangers to economic growth. In your answer, please identify one policy you would propose to further spur the economy and one policy you would oppose out of concern it would damper growth. Q. I spent 28 years as a high school teacher in Utah, focusing on American History and Government. I also served 16 years in the state legislature, including as Majority Leader and as the unanimously-elected Speaker of the House. Because of my background in the legislature, I was able to hit the ground running after first being elected to Congress. My colleagues recognized from the start that I am about substance and solutions, not making a splash or clamoring for credit; and because of that I was able to jump over other members who had more seniority than I did. Since that time, I have become the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. These are two committees that are of vital importance to Utah, and especially to the 1st Congressional District. I became Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee nearly four years ago, and because House Chairmanships are limited to six years, this year (2018) will be my last Congressional election. I have always wanted to serve Utah while I can serve it best. Wages are up, unemployment is down, and there is a renewed sense of optimism when it comes to the economy in America. Frankly, it’s been a refreshing change of pace. I believe the tax bill we passed has a lot to do with that. It allows people to keep more of their hard-earned-money and encourages business growth, including manufacturing, right here in the United States. We need to keep on the same trajectory, and continuing to keep taxes low, while eliminating unnecessary and burdensome regulations, will continue to push our economy forward. My two main priorities when it comes to public land in Utah are increa Utahns and enhancing local voices when it comes to decision-making on land issues are unique to each specific area and, as such, there cannot b all type of plan for land management. Conservation, development, and re all legitimate uses and there is enough land out there to have balanced u them. Unfortunately, there are certain special-interest-groups that have w certain legitimate uses with which they ideologically disagree and, throu litigation, have damaged the management tools of federal agencies. This to our major wildfire problem, which I am working to address. As Chairm Resources Committee, my work has always focused on the need to balan public lands and to give special heed local community voices. My life experiences and education have prepared me for the congressional office I am seeking. I was born and raised in utah. As a youth I worked in the fields around Layton with three generations of my family members. As a young man I was rendered homeless and know what that is like. I worked my way through college to get my masters degree in social work. I worked at Hill AFB family practice clinic and understand the needs of our military families. I then worked for DCFS foster care system and understand the needs of struggling families and it’s impact on children. I presently work for the state hospital providing competency restoration to those who are in our jail system who have been deemed incompetent by our court system. I understand what lack of medical/psychological care does to people and the end result of the opioid crisis. I am familiar with all levels of societies issues and know how to resolve them. I am a 41 year old Latino therapist who feels what Congress needs today is a therapist who specializes in competency restoration. Utah is diverse and I truly believe “Utah is for everybody “. At the moment it seems the economy is doing great but what is not obvious is the pending implosion of some policy changes which are economic growth killers. One such policy is this zero tolerance immigration enforcement. What is not highly obvious is this policy is killing smaller family farms and hospitality businesses. I am not for open borders just common sense enforcement and recognizing reality. I spoke to many farmers who are on the verge of bankruptcy because they can’t hire workers they need. We are trending to where we will have to import food. Quite frankly I see this as a national security as well as a business issue. I would support actually iniate a special visa for Ag/Hospitality where they can hire undocumented personnel. Those folks would be deemed needed skills and not subject to deportation. I support immigration enforcement tempered with humanity -it is also cheaper. Federal lands need a management plan that isn’t zero or max mineral e oriented. Sadly what we have seen feels like an attack on sacred Native national parks are trending to become a high priced for profit theme park to do is identify sacred lands such as Bears Ears then if we need mineral offset the cost of maintaining these and other federal lands develope a p extraction needed. The tribes who the land this really belongs to should to identify appropriate extraction sites. Admission costs for federal parks prohibiting for low income families. If you allow mineral extraction charg incredibly low fees now charged. Then lower admission costs. If extracti needs to be done with minimal impact and max revenue. For sacred land tions and for others less. As a father of four kids between the ages of 14-20, I enter this race firmly invested in the future of our state, nation, and world. I was born in Logan, and my youth was spent working on farms and ranches in southern Idaho. After a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Belgium, I graduated from BYU with degrees in Finance and International Relations. I furthered my education with an MBA at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. After enjoying a short stint at McKinsey and Company, I returned to Utah’s 1st Congressional District where I worked on the management teams of several rapidly growing small businesses as President or COO. The skills I gained throughout my business career will enable to work to bring opposing sides together, promote innovation, and work towards a balanced budget. I am pleased that our economy has recovered from the depths of the recession. Unfortunately, however, irresponsible government spending has meant that this boom in the economy has not translated into less national debt. In fact, our national debt is larger than it has ever been and it’s growing faster than it’s ever grown. It looms as one of our nation’s greatest threats. Republicans have always pledged to be the party of fiscal responsibility, Republicans in control of the House, Senate, and Executive, and our national debt is growing faster than ever. Healthcare is our biggest expenditure. By better aligning incentives and keeping insurance and pharmaceutical companies honest, we can reduce costs and increase coverage and results in our healthcare system, and, by extension, start to reduce our national debt. I will oppose all unnecessary spending, especially when it’s spurred on by special interests. Rob Bishop and the Natural Resources Committee have been crafting m policy through the lens of $6 million in campaign contributions from the o industry, thus unable to make any decision objectively. The day that Bears Grand Staircase were shrunk, Bishop stated to Doug Wright (KSL) that th was not about oil and gas and that they would be protected legislatively. later, these areas are licensed for extraction. There is common ground regarding a multiple-use plan for public lands. this plan as long as we safeguard what could be permanently lost withou Personal gain shouldn’t be part of the equation regarding protections on G Escalante and Bears’ Ears. We need to use a more objective standard to balance extraction and the uniqueness and wildness of Utah. Mitt Romney is uniquely positioned to serve Utah and fight for Utahns. He led the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and, with a team of volunteers and managers, turned the struggling Games into a success story. In 2012, Romney was the Republican nominee for President of the United States. He was a candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination and served as the Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 through 2007. Throughout his career, Mitt has worked with and campaigned for many U.S. Senators and has long-standing relationships that will allow him to get more done for Utah and the country. The biggest danger to economic growth is the national debt, which currently stands at $21 trillion. Reducing the burden of our national debt is one way to encourage long-term economic growth. Mitt supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by Congress at the end of 2017, which lowered the corporate tax rate to 21 percent. Lower taxes help spur the economy by allowing businesses to grow and compete with other businesses for employees – resulting in better jobs and higher wages. As wages increase, tax revenues increase, allowing our country to pay off some of our growing debt. In addition to increased revenue, Mitt believes cutting back on excessive spending through eliminating unnecessary or outdated programs will help reduce the burden of debt. If programs are deemed necessary, they should be sent back to the states for more localized management. Two-thirds of Utah is public land owned and managed by federal agenc sands of miles away in Washington. Mitt believes greater local and state land management will result in better management decisions and less co public lands. One area that needs reform is management of Wilderness Study Areas unfamiliar with the issue may believe that Wilderness includes all public is not the case. Wilderness, designated by Congress, limits access to the Congress can designate Wilderness, as compared to WSAs, which are as BLM and are often used as a tactic to usurp Congressional authority. If th to continue studying the lands, multiple use must be allowed through the Then, only if Congress – with local input - fulfills their role in formally des Wilderness, uses can be limited. In 2004, I became the first woman elected to the Salt Lake County Council, where I am currently serving my second, six-year term. In Congress, I will prioritize healthcare, compassionate immigration reform, and infrastructure improvements in each corner of our state. I believe that every American family deserves the opportunity to provide their children with an excellent education, the promise of a livable wage, and to live without fear that a pre-existing condition or single hospital visit will bankrupt them. My Senate office door will be open to Utahns, not lobbyists, and I pledge to hold a free, public, in-person town hall in each of Utah’s 29 counties during my first year in office. I served as the Chief of Staff to Utah’s U.S. Congressman Bill Orton and was a senior leader on the Salt Lake Olympic Games staff. I’m a graduate of the University of Utah and hold a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University. I’m the daughter of former Salt Lake City Mayor Ted Wilson and Kathy Wilson, an artist and small business owner. Together with my husband, I’m raising two teenage sons. Currently, my biggest economic concerns for Utah families and small businesses are impacts of the recently implemented Trump tariffs and the additional $2 trillion added to our national debt due to the recent GOP-led tax cuts. The recent tariffs are already hurting us locally. At Salt Lake County, we had to adjust our parks and recreation budget to accommodate a $2 million increase to a $20 million recreation center, due exclusively to steel tariffs. Imagine the detrimental impact to our expanded international airport, new prison, and local efforts at affordable housing options. I would support a bill that focused tax breaks on working class families and small businesses – the backbone of our economy. However, recent tax cuts focused on the super-wealthy, large corporations, and finance professionals who benefit from loopholes. Utah’s public lands are national treasures and deserve to be protected a the idea of federal lands being managed by the state, and support the ori for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Obama-propo for Bears Ears National Monument. I favor land preservation and supported Salt Lake County funding that b nanza Flat purchase. On the Salt Lake County Council I was a leader in fo consensus to create a regional mountain planning commission – the Cen Commission – that will be in a good position to advocate for transportatio the Wasatch Range and Summit County. Q. Q. Please describe your background and how it prepares you for the office you seek. The federal government has vast lands ac including significant acreage in Summit C crafting management policies has long been a c process as Congress weighs the disparate inter as industry and recreation. Please describe a m plan that you believe would properly balance th interests and how that plan would address the between Washington and local governments. A any federal lands in Utah that should be review tightened or loosened protections? U.S. HOUSE OF REPRE LEE CASTILLO DEMOCRAT ERIC ELIASON UNITED UTAH PARTY U.S. S MITT ROMNEY REPUBLICAN JENNY WILSON DEMOCRAT Q. Why are you seeking election to the Summit County Council and what are your qualifications to serve? GLENN WRIGHT DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT JOSH MANN UNAFFILIATED WRITE IN Is the County Council committing enough resources toward the affordable and workforce housing shortage? If not, how would you suggest increasing support? SUMMIT COUNTY The County Council has approved a proper crease, as well as two sales-tax hikes since decisions were unanimous. Were the increases ju I am seeking another term to finish some critical work in the areas of renewable energy, carbon footprint, solid waste, and forest fire issues. We have critical health and safety issues facing Summit County exacerbated by negative policies from the Federal government. Fortunately, local government can help to mitigate some of these policies if enough local governmental entities will step up. Summit County is working with Park City, Salt Lake City, and Rocky Mountain Power on getting legislation through the next legislative session to bring 100% renewable electrical energy into the county. I have been the principle council member involved with this project. The carbon footprint issues go beyond just renewable energy and include zoning and development code issues. Also critical is promotion of electrical vehicles and charging infrastructure in Summit County and in the state. Our solid waste program currently produces over ½ of the carbon footprint from county government operations. Moving to a waste to energy regime can greatly reduce this effect. Forest fires in Summit County can have immediate life safety exposures to our residents and lasting negative effects on the watershed, environment and carbon footprint. I am working on both the local and state level on this issue. The Council has approved projects in Silver Creek Village (330 units) and the Canyons base (1100+ workforce beds). Ground breaking on the first roughly 1/3 of units at Silver Creek will be soon. In a recent discussion with the manager of the CVMA, he expects the Canyons project to break ground next year and be (hopefully) complete by 2022. I believe, that in the future, the County could use tax increment financing and other transportation related revenues to create infrastructure that could facilitate more affordable housing. Our development philosophy will also either promote or discourage affordable housing growth. If we allow sprawl, we will make housing less affordable. If we encourage density in places with transportation and infrastructure, we can promote smarter development that includes affordable housing. The County’s revenues come from 3 general sources, property taxes, ge taxes, and intergovernmental transfers from the state and federal govern taxes can be very variable, fluctuating with the economy, as can intergov transfers. The property tax provides a steady stream, but does not increa due to Utah’s Truth in Taxation law. The County had not passed a genera increase in over 30 years during which inflation had decreased buying po percentage. The current low unemployment environment makes it increa attract and retain good staff without salary and benefit increases. Transportation is a community priority and the voters passed a sales ta 2016 specifically for this purpose. In 2018 the Legislature passed the buc on transportation funding and Summit County adopted transportation rel increments that they permitted. I’m worried about the direction of Summit County. We’ve spent years protecting our open spaces. Yet the county plans to add development in multiple places. The entrance to Jeremy Ranch will be further developed. Seven to nine hundred apartments will be added next to Jeremy Ranch Elementary School. Development would continue along Rasmussen Road and near Silver Creek. Highway 40 would be further developed. These plans will transform the Basin into a sprawling suburb. I don’t want that. Likewise, other issues concern me. First, communication from the Summit County Council is not timely enough for action. Second, we need to use technology to enable the council to listen, explain, and educate. Third, our transportation strategy focuses on buses. If you can’t easily get to a bus, then you don’t use it. Instead, we need to get buses into neighborhoods and e-bikes into garages. I want to expand paved trails and make alternative methods of transportation safer. I’ve followed the Summit County Council since 2012 through my Park Rag website. I will bring a critical eye to the council. Perhaps most importantly, I have two young children and live in the Snyderville Basin, which are demographics underrepresented on the County Council. Everyone agrees that affordable housing is important. However, Summit County’s efforts suffer from mismanagement. Over 50% of affordable units at Bear Hollow were found unoccupied by primary residents; they were rented by owners for a significant gain. The county also found that HOA fees made these units practically unaffordable. Now the County Council is looking at using our open space for affordable housing and increasing zoning that lets developers add more retail development if they agree to build additional affordable units. Our county appears desperate to build affordable housing at any cost. We need to take a step back and decide what we are really trying to accomplish, how we enforce it, and how we make it equitable. There is not an easy answer to affordable housing. However, I will look for creative ways to achieve more affordable housing without taking away our open spaces and making poor short-term decisions. The ultimate judge of whether past tax increases are justified is wheth tangible benefits. Have I seen tangible benefits from the tax increases in years? I don’t think so -- at least not yet. I would ask the people reading w they have seen. In the past ten years, the population of Summit County has increased b budget has increased by 95%. That increase isn’t sustainable. We need the council to start separating the things we need from the things we wa |