As incumbent candidates try to hold onto their positions in the House of Representatives in several west-side Salt Lake County races, the issues are as varied as the candidates' backgrounds.
Incumbents are being challenged in each of the six West Valley and west-side Salt Lake races by aggressive candidates with ideas for change in state government.Urban dilemmas like mass transportation, crime and gun control feature prominently in the list of issues that the candidates believe must be addressed.
So do taxation, health-care reform, education, gun control and the environment.
And many of the candidates believe that the Legislature must re-examine several of its decisions, including existing income tax brackets, economic development and how to make government more open, accessible and accountable to the electorate.
District 26
Crime, gun control and taxation are the issues dominating the three-way race in House District 26.
The district includes southwest Salt Lake City, northeast West Valley City and west South Salt Lake.
- Democratic incumbent Steve Barth feels that juvenile crime, the juvenile justice system and fairness in taxation are the three major issues facing state government.
Barth, 30, a first-term incumbent, believes the juvenile court system "babies" juvenile offenders, who "think they can get away with anything without consequences." But he also thinks many juveniles do not realize that they have other options. "I think we need to do a better job as a community raising children."
He says the juvenile justice system was designed to deal with youths accused of shoplifting and truancy. "We need to bring it up to date with the crimes we're dealing with today."
Barth says tax brackets are "skewed" against the average family. He believes that low-income and middle-income families are paying more than their fair share of the income tax burden and he supports the Democrats' plan to fix that.
Barth is a gun owner who believes responsibility goes along with it. "I would not support anything to take away anyone's rights to own a weapon," he says, "but we have to do something to take them off the streets. . . . And people need to realize that in our attempts to get them off the streets, we are not going to impede anyone's rights to own a gun."
He says the welfare system must be reformed but believes that the Single Parent Economic Demonstration project is a good blueprint for reform and should be adopted statewide. He does not think proposed time limits are realistic and hopes that welfare recipients will be allowed to get an education. He proposes a system to let them pay back the cost of education, perhaps with service.
He supports making more community college campuses available to nontraditional students but says that "building new campuses for the sake of building new campuses is ridiculous when we have facilities that are excellent and need to be used."
Barth opposes gasoline-tax increases and says he supports specific user fee increases like that in Millcreek Canyon. "Users of the canyon paid for its renovation and that's a good, smart way to go."
He would like to see taxes decrease, and he favors abolishing sales tax on food.
Barth says he generally favors reforms like disclosure of conflicts of interest and gifts from special-interest groups.
He feels he's a good candidate because he knows the system and he cites his ability to compromise and his tenacity as two strengths to his candidacy.
Barth works as a management analyst for Salt Lake County. He lives with his wife, Misty, and their infant daughter at 234 Westminster. Barth is a former lobbyist and was a legislative intern in 1987.
- Lowering taxes, eliminating plea bargains for accused criminals and protecting the right of citizens to have guns are key issues for Republican challenger Gregory P. Nance.
Nance, who works in real estate and is a former lobbyist, strongly supports dealing with large revenue surpluses by lowering taxes. He's particularly anxious to lower property taxes.
He believes that private citizens have the right to own guns and promises that "I will do everything I can to protect that right. Gun control isn't crime control."
He believes that he is best qualified to represent the district because he doesn't work for the government. He describes himself as a "citizens rights" candidate. "This race comes down to Goliath versus David. The incumbent is a Goliath who stands for more government control while I'm David, a private citizen who believes that we as citizens have had Big Brother take away too many of our rights."
About welfare reform, Nance says. "I believe that if given a chance, most welfare recipients would rather work. As far as funding, we could reorganize the program where it wouldn't cost any more."
Asked if electric utility companies should be required to bury high-voltage lines, Nance says that "utilities are responsible to the citizens who they serve. But this is a situation where if we don't let them work it out I believe we would be wrong."
He thinks that local people should decide whether they need more college campuses. "But I am in favor of making education available to all who want it."
Nance would oppose any tax increases, including a gasoline-tax increase.
He would "definitely vote yes" on a general tax decrease. He doesn't support increasing fees such as driver's license or hunting license fees.
And he supports opening the now-secret House and Senate Rules committes, full disclosure of lobbyist gifts to lawmakers, disclosure of conflict of interest and finance reform for legislative campaigns.
Nance, 35, and his wife, Reta Nyberg, live at 3300 S. 1080 West.
He says he was raised in politics because his father was a partner with U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt. He has been a paid lobbyist and campaign manager for various congressional races and has run successful petitions in several states.
- Libertarian candidate Michele C. Short, 1520 S. 1000 West, did not respond to the Deseret News' candidate questionnaire.
- District 26 includes southwest Salt Lake City, generally south of 400 South between I-15 and Redwood Road, plus part of the South Central City east to 200 West south of 1300 South and east to 300 East between Westminster Avenue and 2100 South; northeast West Valley City, generally north of 3500 South, with a western boundary of 3200 West north of 2805 South and 2700 West south of 2935 South; and west South Salt Lake. The district's eastern boundary there is State Street from 2100 South to 2700 South and West Temple south of 2700 South.
District 22
Major-party candidates for the House of Representatives in District 22 agree that education and juvenile crime are among the most challenging and important issues facing the state.
Republican Steve Hengen is challenging Democrat incumbent Daniel Tuttle in the district, which includes Magna and southwest West Valley City.
Hengen, a 27-year-old teacher at Kearns High School, believes that the need for more local control of schools is crucial. He also supports protecting Second Amendment rights to have guns and thinks that lawmakers need to "get tough on juvenile offenders."
Tuttle, 48, is a pipe fitter for Kennecott who has spent 10 years as a lawmaker in the House. He believes the three major issues facing government are gangs, education and jobs. "We need to get a program that will let young people work and earn a wage. All the job openings are for 16 and above." He also supports "proper funding" for class size and books, plus wage increases in schools.
Both candidates believe legislators need to work on making income tax brackets more fair. Hengen would cut everybody's taxes; Tuttle supports his political party's plan.
Tuttle believes a task force studying the property tax system will offer suggestions for change. Hengen supports yearly evaluations of that system.
On gun control, both candidates would like to see uniform laws throughout the state. Hengen is a gun owner who says he supports "our Second Amendment rights totally." Tuttle does not say whether he is a gun owner, but would "support statewide jurisdiction" on gun control.
Tuttle believes his strength as a candidate comes from working in and with community groups. Hengen believes that the need for "new blood" supports his candidacy.
Asked whether they would support an increase in funding for welfare-reform projects, Hengen says it would depend on the project's specifics. And Tuttle believes that the issue is a federal one. But he would like to see more money put into Job Training Partnership Act training scholarships, funded through state surplus money.
Neither candidate believes that utility companies should be required to bury existing high-voltage lines.
And they agree that tax increases are a bad idea, both promising to oppose them. They would also oppose a state gasoline-tax increase and would not vote to support an increase in fees such as vehicle registrations or driver's, hunting and professional licenses.
But they split on the issue of a general tax decrease in light of recent record state tax surpluses. While Hengen says he would definitely support cutting general taxes, Tuttle wants to use surplus funds "to fix the education problems and infrastructure."
When it comes to government reform, they are in full agreement. The candidates support opening the now-secret rules committees, full disclosure of lobbyist gifts to lawmakers, greater disclosure of legislators' conflicts of interest and legislative-campaign finance reform.
Tuttle has served eight years in the Magna Community Council, was a Lions Club president in Magna and served as president of Copper Days.
He lives with his wife, Marcia, and four children at 3844 S. 7080 West in West Valley City.
Hengen and his wife, Cheryl, live at 7977 W. 3100 South with their four children. He has no previous government experience.
The third candidate, Libertarian Jerry H. Stocks, 7910 W. 2985 South, is not campaigning actively for the House seat and did not answer a candidate questionnaire.
- District 22 includes Magna; southwest West Valley City, west of 5400 West and south of 4100 South; plus an area of the city extending north to 3800 South and west of 6800 West; and part of Kearns west of Copper City Drive and north of Borax Avenue.
District 23
Three candidates are vying for the opportunity to represent residents of House District No. 23. The issues they're concerned about range from youth crime to health care to workers' rights.
The district generally encompasses northwest and far west areas of Salt Lake City.
- Incumbent Pete Suazo, a Democrat, lists youth crime, education and the environment as the hot-button issues facing state government.
On crime, Suazo says the state needs to take a "proactive and preventive approach . . . Utah must be willing to spend the money to provide adequate educational and community programs as alternatives to criminal and gang activities." The state also needs to set aside more money for short- and long-term incarceration facilities for youth, he said.
He supports Democratic efforts to eliminate inequities in the state income tax formulas that force lower- and middle-income families to pay at unfair rates. He also supports restructuring the property tax formula and allocations to favor homeowners and local residents.
Suazo favors welfare reforms that help people on public assistance become self-sufficient, but he has "serious concerns about proposed two-year assistance cut-off dates. Many recipients are enrolled in education and training programs that will take more time to achieve self-sufficiency."
Suazo opposes general tax or gasoline tax increases but said he might support increases in users' fees - such as for hunting and professional licenses.
"I strongly believe that I have a good feel for the needs and desires of the area," Suazo said. "Further, I enjoy the challenges of community service and I have taken the time to be accessible and work at being a good listener."
Suazo, 44, works for Impact Business Consultants, a firm that provides services to minorities. He is the secretary/director of Central de la Familia de Utah. He and his wife, Alicia, have four children and reside at 1307 Garnette St.
Suazo was administrative assistant to former Salt Lake Mayor Palmer DePaulis. He also worked as the director of water and sanitation for the city of Ranchos de Taos, N.M. He is in his first term in the Utah House.
- Issues that affect the welfare of the family are at the heart of Republican candidate Gena Snodgrass' platform.
Snodgrass, 30, believes the most important issues facing state government are education - Utah needs more of it - crime - Utah needs less of it - and strict laws to achieve that. Health care is another major issue, and she favors reforms identified by Gov. Mike Leavitt.
Snodgrass does not support any tax or fee increases and would vote for a tax decrease, given the recent tax surpluses. She favors moving to a graduated state income formula that would be less onerous on the middle class.
She also supports more open government through reforms such as making the rules committees open to the public.
Snodgrass is against construction of new college campuses in the state, believing the existing campuses should be used more fully.
She supports proposed welfare reforms, provided additional taxes aren't needed to fund the programs.
"I am better qualified to represent the district because although there are a lot of Democrats in the district, they are fairly conservative in their values and my opponent adheres to quite liberal values and beliefs," Snodgrass said.
Snodgrass is a teacher's aide for the Salt Lake School District and a homemaker. She is a member of the Utah Adoption Council legislative committee.
Snodgrass and her husband, Layne, are the parents of two children. They reside at 957 N. Oakley St.
- John P. Langford, 41, has filed as a Socialist Workers candidate for the House District No. 23 seat. His campaign is based on classic socialist causes: workers' rights and opposition to capitalism.
"I was raised in a union-proud family in Utah and I know firsthand how the local, state and federal governments use their power against working people - how strikers are mistreated, how the courts, cops and police are used against struggles of working people," Langford said.
He opposes U.S. involvement in foreign affairs, including Cuba. He wants all anti-labor legislation repealed, including Utah's right-to-work law.
Langford opposes any welfare reform that seeks to cut payments to those receiving assistance. He is for construction of additional college campuses in Utah and said funding could come from the billions the federal government now spends on defense.
Langford would oppose any tax increases and would favor a general tax decrease.
Langford is a production worker at Magcorp. He and his wife, Mabel, have two children and live at 1859 W. 700 North.
Langford is a member of the United Steelworkers of America and has been active in the anti-apartheid movement and the abortion rights movement. He traveled to Cuba with a trade union delegation to forge solidarity with workers and students there.
- House District No. 23 includes the city's northwest and far west neighborhoods, including all areas west of Redwood Road plus Rose Park and Fairpark neighborhoods, the areas generally west of I-15 and north of 200 South, extending as far south as 400 South between the Jordan River and Cheyenne Street.
District 29
Concerns about crime form a common link between the two candidates competing in House District 29, representing the northern section of West Valley City.
- Republican Ronald D. Eberhard, 3643 S. 6265 West, puts crime second behind the federal government's encroachment on state's rights in his list of Utah's key issues.
Eberhard, 52, is an office manager for the wholesale distributor Seaich Card & Souvenir Corp. He favors passing 10th Amendment legislation similar to Colorado's action to protect states' rights and supports Gov. Mike Leavitt's conference of states.
Regarding crime, Eberhard supports strengthening the juvenile justice system to make young offenders responsible for their actions. He favors finding an effective mass transit alternative to light rail and the present UTA operations.
To address criticisms plaguing the property-tax system, Eberhard suggests "the only proper use of property tax is to provide municipal services. This would allow a property-tax decrease and provide relief for retired and fixed-income taxpayers."
Eberhard said he believes in the right to bear arms. Gun sales should only be controlled by the state to keep them away from convicted violent criminals, minors and the mentally incompetent, he said. "Prison sentences should be increased for crimes committed with a gun."
He would definitely vote no on any general tax increase, would probably vote no on a gasoline tax and would definitely vote for a tax decrease.
- Democrat Brent H. Goodfellow has served five terms in the House of Representatives and considers education, crime and the environment to be the three major issues currently facing the state.
Goodfellow, 54, supports rebracketing the state income tax to "increase the rates for higher income brackets and decrease the rate for middle-income families - it would create more fairness," he said.
Regarding gun-related laws, Goodfellow said he considers himself a sportsman and strong supporter of Second Amendment rights but also believes that "cities have the authority to make laws to control crime and drive-by shootings."
Goodfellow, 3620 S. 6000 West, an administrator at Salt Lake Community College, is a member of the West Valley Crime Task Force and serves in the West Valley Police Honorary Colonels organization.
He supports full disclosure of lobbyist gifts to lawmakers, opening the House and Senate rules committees and greater disclosure of legislators' conflicts of interest.
He would probably vote no on a general tax increase or gasoline-tax increase and would not increase fees for registrations or licenses. He would vote to remove the sales tax on food.
- District 29 includes parts of northern West Valley City generally west to 7200 West, east to 2700 West and south to 3500 South, plus areas as far south as 4100 South between 5600 West and 6885 West.
District 32
Three West Valley candidates will vie for the District 32 seat in the House of Representatives, representing the south-central part of the city.
- Democrat Allan C. Rushton, 55, is seeking re-election to his fifth term in the House. He tops his list of Utah's priority issues with education, also listing what he calls the state's imbalanced representation and economic development among other concerns.
Rushton, a Kennecott employee, said he believes the state needs better infrastructure to support new economic development and must address classroom size and other education issues.
"We can help education with electronic classroom aids coming out," he said.
Rushton, 3878 S. 5200 West, supports more frequent assessments to counter drastic swings in property taxes and is opposed to any form of gun control. He favors additional college campuses, specifically those discussed for rural regions.
Rushton does not favor outright reform of several legislative practices without conditions. He is against legislative campaign finance reform and greater disclosure of lobbyist gifts to lawmakers.
- Republican Ron Bigelow, 5148 Red Flower Circle, believes juvenile crime, education and health care are the state's key issues.
Bigelow, a CPA employed by the LDS Church, supports building more facilities to house juvenile offenders and adopting a strategic plan for education.
To quell drastic jumps in property taxes, Bigelow suggests basing property taxes on a home's original purchase price or requiring countywide indexing.
He supports a welfare-reform project aimed at reducing the number of people using government subsidies and believes any funding should come from other welfare-related programs.
The 45-year-old West Valley man opposes any additional college campuses until those available now are more fully utilized.
- American Party candidate Janet Mantle Ericson, 4498 W. 4695 South, supports a true interpretation of the Constitution and calls for more parent involvement in schools and programs to decrease voter apathy.
The 55-year-old licensed practical nurse has campaigned for the same House of Representatives seat three times. She is against any form of new tax or user fee and would possibly consider a decrease in the current state sales tax.
Ericson supports full public disclosure of legislative practices.
- District 32 comprises West Valley areas generally south of 3500 South, west of 4000 West and east of 5400 West, plus an area north to 3100 South between 4000 West and 4400 West.
District 33
A three-way race in House District 33 shows candidates for both major parties supporting full disclosure by the House and Senate, including legislative campaign finance reform. The district includes portions of West Valley City and Taylorsville.
- Republican Jim Decker, 44, 3247 W. Lancer Way, believes effective transportation statewide is Utah's top concern. He would propose additional studies of a mass transit system from Ogden to Provo and is opposed to the light-rail system currently under discussion - which he calls "snail rail" because of its 14 to 22 mph average speeds. He suggests a monorail or bus expressway.
Reducing crime and capping consumer interest rates are among his other priorities.
Decker, self-employed in the real estate industry, said he doesn't support any further restrictions on gun ownership by adults but does favor limiting handgun possession by juveniles in all cases.
- Neal B. Hendrickson, 3402 W. 4100 South, a Democrat, has spent two terms as a state representative and rates crime, education and the environment as Utah's three key issues.
"Overcrowding in the classrooms is a serious problem and needs to be addressed," he said. "In terms of crime, the Legislature needs to take a pre-emptive action so that there are enough education and community programs to discourage criminal activity."
A bus driver and the owner of a swim school, Hendrickson, 44, said he strongly supports the push by the state's education system to compensate for an increased student population and would support additional college campuses in the state.
- District 33 comprises West Valley areas east of 4000 West between 3500 South and 4100 South; plus northeast Taylorsville, generally east of Atherton Drive or 1300 West and north of 4800 South.