Gov. Spencer J. Cox, Rep. Brian King and J. Robert Latham (L) went head-to-head on Sept. 11 at the Grand Theater in Salt Lake Community College, debating housing, energy and Amendment D.
This election cycle's candidates gathered in downtown Salt Lake City to give their response to some of the major issues facing Utahns today. The candidates sparred with each other over rising housing costs in Utah, inflated energy prices and Amendment D.
When moderator Jason Perry asked the candidates how they would address creating affordable housing options throughout Utah, all three candidates recognized it as an issue to prioritize but each of them had different solution to the problem.
“We have to build. It is the only answer," Cox said. "Sadly, over the past 15 years, we’ve stopped building starter homes — homes that are under $400,000, homes that are under $300,000.”
According to Cox, this is an issue that his administration is collaborating with experts, cities, county commissioners and developers to solve. They plan to build 35,000 starter homes over the next five years. King had a different perspective.
“One of the things we can do is provide greater disincentives for people who do not live in Utah to not buy homes as speculative or investment properties. They have no intention of living there," King said. "Many times, they just want to either flip them for speculation purposes, or they want to rent them out at inflated rents. And that's not good for Utahns. We need to make sure that Utah housing stock is purchased and available for Utahns.”
King acknowledged the Legislature has done commendable work but said that Utah requires further action, and that the Legislature must enhance its efforts. Latham had a different proposal, directing Utahns to the Free to Build program.
“I really encourage folks interested in this issue to look at the freetobuild.org website. It has, I think, some great market oriented solutions that can again increase housing affordability in Utah," Latham said. "And look, one of the issues about the Utah Legislature is that it is composed of a large number of developers, and one way developers make their money is to reduce the supply. And when you reduce the supply, then you have this construction cartel that raises the cost of housing for the housing consumer. But it makes it certainly more profitable for the developer.”
When the candidates were asked about energy production management policies and how they would approach affordable and sustainable energy, each candidate supported the use of multiple energy sources, but to varying degrees.
“We've got renewable energy resources in Utah. They're tremendous: solar, wind and hydro," King said. "And those are things that we are neglecting because we refuse to follow where the market is taking us. Renewable energy is not the future. It's the present knocking on our door saying, 'Why are you late?'”
Latham considered himself an "all-of-the-above" energy proponent, including nuclear energy. Cox agreed with Latham.
“Mr. Latham is absolutely right ... We have to have nuclear. If you believe in decarbonizing and reducing the price of energy in our country, you have to support nuclear,” Gov. Cox said.
Salt Lake Community College student Cassidy Archuleta had the chance to ask the candidates about Amendment D, which concerns the Legislature's power to repeal and modify citizen ballot initiatives. She asked the candidates if they thought the Legislature should have this power.
Both King and Latham answered in the negative to this question. However, Cox's answer was not definitive.
"It’s very important that we have the opportunity to ask people to propose initiatives and referenda as well to overturn a decision by the legislature," Cox said. "I will tell you, the best states in this country are all ranked. You have less initiatives, not more. Initiatives should be rare, but they are important. And we have to keep that power available."
On Sept. 12, the Utah District Court decided Amendment D would stay on the upcoming Nov. 5 ballot to avoid any risk of failing to meet election deadlines. However, the District Court decided votes would not be counted because the Legislature placing it there was unconstitutional. The Utah Supreme Court upheld the decision on Sept. 25.
According to Light House Research, Cox is leading the polls at 47%, with King following at 27% and Latham at 7%.