Snow seeks reelection for House 74, affirms legislative process to vet issues

Rep. V. Lowry Snow (right) speaking with a prospective voter, St. George, Utah, Oct. 11. 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – Rep. V. Lowry Snow presently represents Utah House District 74, which covers a western portion of Washington County. As the Republican incumbent, Snow is challenged by Democratic opponent Dorothy Engelman.

“I consider it an honor to be a representative,” Snow said. He was originally appointed to the position in 2011, following Rep. David Clark’s resignation. “I try to do the best job I can. I can’t please every one of the 37,000 people of my district with every vote. I will try to do the very best I can if reelected.”

Work in the Legislature

Though he hasn’t sponsored any bills that made headlines, Snow said, he is proud of the work he has accomplished thus far. One example he pointed to is legislation passed during the 2013 General Session of the Legislature called Serious Youth Offender Amendments, or 2013 House Bill 105. The legislation passed and became effective May 2013, amending the state’s Serious Youth Offender Law to allow juvenile court judges greater discretion in determining when youth offenders should be tried as adults.

“The law previous, in some respects, was mechanical and strict in how much discretion the judges had, and I sponsored legislation that gave them broader discretion,” Snow said.

The adult penal system isn’t equipped to help deal with the supervision and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, he said.

Legislation Snow is currently working on includes a bill addressing how ownership of water is transferred and change applications are approved. He has worked on measures related to clean energy and air quality, he said.

Public Lands, Lake Powell Pipeline

Two ever-present issues that resurface with each election in recent years are public lands and the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline. So where does Snow stand on these matters?

Snow supports a transfer of public lands management from the federal to state level. He does not want the state to “take control for control’s sake,” he said, but rather to use it as a means to gain greater access to resources that could generate greater funding for public education.

Snow said he also supports the idea of Utah and the federal government working together to identify public lands the state can manage and from which it can receive revenue.

As for the pipeline, Snow said: “I support the idea that we need to prepare in Washington County for the growth that is projected … the pipeline is infrastructure that would help us with that.”

However, Snow also said the issue of the Lake Powell Pipeline still needs to be thoroughly studied out and vetted to determine if it is actually necessary. The people in the county and the state also need to be fully educated on the pros and cons of the pipeline, he said.

“I do support the pipeline, at least the concept, subject to those conditions,” Snow said.

Nondiscrimination bill and legislative process

With same-sex marriage once again legal in Utah, a question legislative candidates are being asked is whether or not they support a nondiscrimination bill to be reintroduced by Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, next year. The bill would add housing and employment protections to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by amending the state’s current nondiscrimination laws.

“Before I support a bill or don’t support a bill, I’d like to see: What is it?” Snow said. In other words, he’d like to see it in writing. Also before assuming a position on a proposed bill, he said he would like to see legislative process the debate in committee hearings and on the House floor, as well as consider the input of constituents.

“I can’t underestimate the power of the process,” he said. Comparing it to his background in law, Snow said, he likes to hear “all of the evidence” before making a conclusion on any legislation.

“I will keep a fair and open mind on Sen. Urquhart’s bill,” he said. “It’s a very delicate and sensitive subject and I think that we need to be civil and kind and respectful in discussion and I will be that way.”

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7 Comments

  • You Know It Is True October 19, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    Now here is a politician who has not pre-made-up-his-mind about important issues. Rather than hanging his hat on catch phrases, he wants to actually SEE what something is all about, prior to either giving or denying his support. Doesn’t that make sense? Isn’t that what we want from people who are supposed to represent us? Seems to me like Mr. Snow has been doing a good job. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

  • anon October 19, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    State gets hold of federal land they sell in off to private interests: developement, resource extraction, etc. Joe Public loses in every way. No jobs are created. Good ol’ boys make $$$.

  • DareDrop October 19, 2014 at 8:14 pm

    Mr Snow is a real asset to our state, yes indeed. He and his pals made the Ag-Gag law, HB183, making it a crime to take photos of criminal animal cruelty. Oh and he is an animal lover also, i would hate to be a pet of his. So lets look up some of the other bills he voted on!

    • Twilightzone October 20, 2014 at 10:06 am

      Let’s match mr Snows with old squeaky wheels herself ms Engelman who is pro abortion, can we post pictures of abortions?
      If your not snows pet than you must be engelmans.

      • DareDrop October 20, 2014 at 3:57 pm

        Why would that Petzone?

  • FYI October 20, 2014 at 9:13 am

    So ALL the states East of the Rockies are run by the Good ol’ boys make $$$
    Is that what you are saying cause they don’t have federal land

  • S B October 20, 2014 at 10:35 pm

    I wonder if he even knows about the policy between the school districts and the local police forces in our city in dealing with children in the schools. and a gross violation of their constitutional rights along with the the parents. it just hurts have written waves of ignoring the Constitution altogether. and the police just follow up with the negligence by the districts

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