- Do you support or oppose the Independent Redistricting Commission and Standards Act that Utah voters approved in 2018? Please explain your reasoning.
- Yes, I strongly support the Independent Redistricting Commission and Standards Act. I support all citizen efforts to make their voices heard through ballot initiatives and any other means. Utahns have a wide range of opinions and beliefs and all need to be heard. Every person is important, and thus every voice is important. Having voting districts that are defined in a non-partisan way is a good method to encourage legislators to listen to all people.
- What should happen when the legislature disagrees with a map the commission produces, and what would you do in that situation?
- If the legislature disagrees with a map produced by the commission, I believe that the correct course of action is to first submit to the commission the reasons for their disagreement and then allow the commission to redraw the map if the commission finds those reasons to be valid. If the legislature still disagrees with the commission I believe they can again submit their reasons to the Utah Supreme Court and let the Court determine if those reasons are valid. If the reasons for disagreement are found to be valid then the commission should redraw maps with those reasons in mind. What must not happen is that the legislature draws the maps.
- If as a legislator I were in such a situation, I would work with the commission to communicate my concerns. After meeting with the commission I would accept the commission's decisions.
- Do you support Utah's vote-by-mail system as it stands?
- Yes. I have full and complete confidence in Utah's vote by mail system. After touring the vote by mail facilities and meeting with those amazing people who work there, I am absolutely certain that Utah vote collecting and counting systems are fair and secure.
- What would you do to encourage more people to vote who currently don't vote?
- I am working to help every person know that they are important, regardless of their political views. I want to hear from everyone, not just those that I agree with. I encourage all to vote, whether they vote for me or not.
- Utah voters can put questions on the ballot through citizen initiatives and referenda. Should the threshold for passing them be changed? Why or why not?
- The threshold should not be changed. Raising the threshold only serves to weaken the voice of the people and concentrate power in the hands of a few. This is antithetical to a democratic government.
- What do you see as the relationship between transparency and corruption?
- Since the government derives its power from the people, the primary way that the people have to identify and act on government corruption is through transparency. This requires strong protections for the freedom of the press. Government provides this transparency by allowing access to the press. This access must be open to all members of the press, regardless of the perceived coverage by government officials. Transparency means unfettered access to government reports, data, actions, and officials by any and all members of the press. This access does not depend on the type, bias, or opinions of the press coverage.
- Does Utah's GRAMA support the public's right to know, or does it need strengthening? Or is it too stringent?
- I believe that GRAMA does support the public's right to know. I support efforts to increase the sharing of all government information with the public.
- Describe a specific action you would take in office to make sure every person in your district has equal access to government services and equal protection under the law, regardless of citizenship status.
- The opening sentence of the Declaration of Independence is powerful:
- We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
- Of critical importance is the word "all". While not legally binding, the Declaration of Independence sets forth the morality of the United States.
- I will work for health care that all can access. Health care is not the same thing as health insurance. I intend to work for actual care that is accessible to every person. That involves addressing the cost of the actual care itself.
- Is there anything else you think is relevant that our questions did not reach?
- _(no response)_
