Candidate Background Information
Occupation: Construction and Development
Education: Brigham Young University, University of Phoenix
Prior Experience: 30+ years in the industry
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Questions
The League of Women Voters has made every effort to present accurately the candidates' responses as they were submitted.
- If elected, what two things do you hope to accomplish as a member of the House of Representatives for the people of
Utah
?
If elected, I will continue to 1) fight to strengthen family and to encourage family and personal responsibility and 2) to hold the line on government spending and keep government in its proper role.
- How would you address the following issues? (Please answer each question in 200 words or less.)
- Adequate funding for education, including funding for disadvantaged populations such as non-English-speakers and prison inmates
Adequate funding for education continues to be a focus of the Utah Legislature. Constitutionally, both corporate and personal income tax is dedicated to education. These dollars have risen over the past several years due to our state's vibrant economy. This is the tide that raises all ships and must continue to be a focus in order to strengthen our education budget.
On a recent trip to the Uintah Basin, I made aware of new developments on state school trust lands which are set up to help in funding of education in Utah. For example, Red Leaf anticipates being able in the next 7-8 years to produce 50,000 barrels of oil per day from the abundant oil shale reserves located on trust lands. Three other groups had similar projections. Red Leaf's production alone would increase state education revenues by $160-$200 million per year. These kinds of innovative steps will lead to significant new funding sources for education.
I believe it is time for equalization of property taxes. Many growth areas have lower assessed evaluations resulting in much higher tax rates while others make very little sacrifice for educational infrastructure. The balancing of property taxes would equalize the burden.
- Energy resource development and clean air
Utah is a flagship energy state with many resources that have not been developed, often because of the federal wilderness designations which have been imposed upon us by Congress. There are, however, vast reserves of natural gas in the Uintah Basin and Carbon and Emery Counties which are just now being tapped. Natural gas is a clean energy source with very few polluting by-products. I also believe it is imperative, not only for our state but for our national sovereignty, that we continue to develop our coal, oil and other energy resources.
It is evident that becoming energy independent is essential to a strong and prosperous future. Spanish Fork has just developed, in conjunction with Rocky Mountain Power, the first commercially-viable wind farm in Utah. Although wind alone cannot satisfy the entire demand, other clean energy options - solar, hydro, geothermal, osmosis, hydrogen - must continue to be developed and the technology improved. Europe continues to develop nuclear power and has been successful in delivering safe, inexpensive power.
- Water development and conservation
Utah is a desert state and, as such, needs to carefully evaluate its water needs. In my service on Water Task Force, I have seen first-hand the consequences of water mining in the Beryl Junction area of southern Utah and the dramatic settling that took place in that valley. It is absolutely imperative that we manage our water resources in a way that does not deplete our subsurface supply, creating imbalances and structural settlement in our valleys. Given our over-appropriation of water, it is critical that the current system of priority water rights be maintained and that individuals take personal responsibility for effective water management in business, agriculture, and personal use. It is also imperative that we claim and utilize our legal water resources from the Colorado River and its tributaries by developing the Lake Powell pipeline and not allow our water rights to be usurped by other larger or more aggressive states such as Nevada and California.
Northern Utah has a great water resource in Utah Lake which is virtually untapped. As a member of the Utah Lake Commission, I will help in the wise development of that valuable resource.
- Better communication between elected officials and their constituents
As an elected official, I have worked hard to promote good communication between me and my constituents. I consistently write newspaper editorials providing thoughts and perspectives and encouraging email or telephone feedback. At the beginning of each legislative session, I send out a survey and truly appreciate the valuable input I receive. I have and will continue to make myself available to speak in school classrooms, cottage meetings, and other public forums where I can receive input from and share information with my constituents. I actively maintain a website which provides a wide range of resources from bills I have run to previous newspaper articles to my views on a myriad of topics. It is absolutely essential that my constituents know where and how to contact me and give valuable input into the process.
- If the State had a revenue surplus of $100 million, how would you allocate the money? (Response should include $______________ for ________________________________.
The question of how to use a surplus of $100 million is very ambiguous in that it does not indicate if the money comes from income taxes in which case it is dedicated solely to the education budget. It could be placed in the rainy day fund as we did last year, anticipating that the economy was turning and would likely result in shortfalls which current projections are now confirming.
If it comes from sales or excise tax, it would likely be used for infrastructure, either for transportation or corrections, depending on the need. It also fails to indicate if these surpluses are ongoing or one-time. It is imprudent to use one-time money for ongoing programs. One-time money is best used for transportation infrastructure or capital facilities. With a better understanding, I would likely be better able to give feedback.
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