Candidates for Senate District 28 share views on inflation, rising gas prices, drought

(L-R) Composite image shows Patricia Bradford, Barry Short, and Evan Vickers | Photos courtesy of relative candidates, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Incumbent Evan Vickers faces two challengers for the Senate District 28 seat. Vickers is up against Patricia Bradford of the United Utah party and Barry Short of the Libertarian party.

The District covers western Washington County, Iron County, Beaver County, the Delta area of Millard County and a small part of Juab County. Vickers outlined his positions for St. George News in an email.

Evan Vickers

Why do you think you’re the right candidate for the job and what issues are most pressing to you?

Vickers said to be successful, one must develop strong relationships of trust and effective communication with everyone in all branches of government.

“I was elected by my fellow senators to serve as the Senate Majority Leader the past four years,” Vickers said. “The district I represent has a powerful seat at the decision-making table.”

He has a proven track record of being a fiscal and social conservative. Vickers supports public and higher education. He is active in rural issues, including transportation, water, agriculture and economic development.

“I have been a tireless advocate for these and many more issues that affect our area and rural way of life,” he said.

Vickers said challenges vary from county to county, while others are common. Vickers has crafted a 2023 bill for first-time homeowners, where they or others on their behalf can put money into a special account. If the money is used for costs for the purchase of a home, the money is exempt from state tax.

Vickers has championed water conservation, development and reuse funding. He is working with the water users in the Parowan Valley to pass legislation for them to develop aquifer recharge projects.

What could the Utah Legislature do to help ease inflation and high gas prices?

Vickers said inflation is related to the large influx of federal money into the economy, increasing the demand for many products.

“Our economy has been very strong, with low unemployment and significant wage increases, and this, too, has contributed to some of the inflation,” Vickers said. “It has caused the supply chain businesses to raise prices, which leads to increased costs for the consumer. ”

Gas prices are trending downward, as is inflation in Utah. He said it is the responsibility of the Legislature to push smart tax and business policies that will allow companies to operate efficiently and profitably.

Vickers said Utah is not on an island regarding product inflation, including gas. Many factors cause inflation and high gas prices, including policies in Washington D.C., to decrease domestic oil and natural gas production. He said this directly leads to higher fuel costs. He suggests the Legislature look at ways to ease supply chain issues and increase Utah’s gas, oil and natural gas production.

 What do you think are most important to constituents in Southern Utah counties specifically and how would you address them?

In Washington County, issues include housing costs, new water development and water conservation. Iron County is similar, with the addition of aquifer replenishment. For Beaver County, it’s economic development, water conservation, aquifer replenishment, and maintenance of rural roads.

In the Delta area of Millard County, issues include the continued viability of the IPP Power Project and funding to conserve surface water for agriculture. In Juab County, issues are paved roads in the rural part of the county.

Vickers said he has a strong track record of working with local officials to address their specific issues.

With water shortages and drought becoming a major concern in Utah, especially in the more arid southern regions, what is the state government’s role in securing water rights for the state? What are your thoughts on the viability of the Lake Powell Pipeline?

Vickers said the state approved funding in a bill he sponsored to preserve water rights upstream of the Great Salt Lake to protect it.

To deal with water shortages in Southern Utah, water storage, reusing treated sewer water for secondary irrigation, and water conservation need to happen. Also, he suggested lower-flow toilets, aquifer recharge projects and water development.

With the renegotiation of the compact governing the Lake Powell water use by upper and lower basin states, the Lake Powell Pipeline will be more difficult. Legislation sponsored by Republican Rep. Brad Last, District 71 Iron and Washington counties, established a commission representing Utah in these negotiations, which will be critical in the outcome of the talks.

Patricia Bradford

Bradford of the United Utah party is running for the Senate District 28 seat. The District covers western Washington County, Iron County, Beaver County, the Delta area of Millard County, and a small part of Juab County. Bradford faces incumbent Republican Evan Vickers and Barry Short of the Libertarian party. Bradford outlined her views to St. George News.

Why do you think you’re the right candidate for the job, and what issues are most pressing to you?

Bradford said she is committed to representing the people of Senate District 28, not a party or platform. She believes in doing the hard work to find real solutions to complex challenges.

“We need reforms to bring accountability and debate back to our political system,” Bradford said. “These include non-partisan redistricting, term limits, open primaries, alternative voting systems and campaign finance reform.”

She said public education is one of the most important community resources. Teachers and school districts require support and resources as they partner with parents to help students succeed. Bradford said they also need the flexibility to meet the unique challenges of their specific schools and students. 

“Students suffer when education policy becomes about politics instead of education,” Bradford said.

 What could the Utah Legislature do to help ease inflation and high gas prices?

 One of the most painful parts of inflation for many families is the rising cost of housing. Bradford said most strategies to reduce the housing shortage are implemented locally. Still, the Legislature can enact laws and policies that encourage affordable housing and wise land usage.

 Bradford said gas prices are challenging because they are subject to the free market. In the short term, there is only so much the government can do to regulate private companies. Bradford suggests the possibility of lowering the gas tax, but it would only account for a few cents a gallon.

The budget shortfall would need to be made up from somewhere else. Bradford said the state could look at new infrastructures, such as extending the gas pipelines to bring down the costs of transporting gasoline to individual communities and stations.

 What do you think are most important to constituents in Southern Utah counties specifically and how would you address them?

Bradford said Senate District 28 is extensive and covers a significant portion of Central and Southern Utah on the west side of the state.

“I’ve found from talking to constituents that in Washington and Iron Counties, the biggest concerns are water and land usage,” Bradford said. “Both areas are growing at fast rates and there is concern about resources keeping up.”

Millard and Beaver counties are concerned about water, but they are also concerned about economic opportunity. Bradford added that both counties have lost a significant number of jobs in recent years.

“The state needs to work with county and municipal governments to develop strategies that promote the assets of Beaver and Millard to potential employers looking to move to the area. For example, a company may be interested in finding somewhere with an existing rail line,” Bradford said.

With water shortages and drought becoming a major concern in Utah, especially in the more arid southern regions, what is the state government’s role in securing water rights for the state? What are your thoughts on the viability of the Lake Powell Pipeline?

“Utah is the second driest state in the country, and we need to learn to be smarter with the water we have,” Bradford said.

Water-wise landscaping, for both commercial and residential, is a step in the right direction. Last year, a bill was introduced in the Legislature that would prevent HOAs from requiring lawns. Bradford said the bill didn’t pass but is hopeful it will happen in the future.

“Agriculture is the largest water user in the state. The state must work with farmers to find ways to use water more efficiently while not hurting their businesses,” Bradford said. “I believe the answer will be some combination of new irrigation technology and climate-appropriate crops.”

Bradford said Lake Powell is at its lowest level since being filled over 40 years ago. 

“I understand Washington County’s need for another water source, but spending billions of dollars to build a pipeline to a reservoir that is struggling already is not the answer,” Bradford said.

Barry Short

Short represents the Libertarian Party and is running for Senate District 28 against two challengers. Short faces incumbent Republican Evan Vickers and Patricia Bradford of the United Utah Party. Short emailed St. George News his viewpoints. 

Why do you think you’re the right candidate for the job and what issues are most pressing to you?

Short said most of the people of Southern Utah are fiscally conservative. They believe government shouldn’t be taking their money via taxes and spending it on things they would not choose to pay for. He said people want taxpayer money spent carefully and no more than necessary.

“The incumbent’s voting record is not in alignment with those values, and I intend to represent them properly because they’re my values as well,” Short said.

Short focuses on limiting spending, reducing taxation and restoring confidence in election integrity. He wants to establish a school choice program to serve students better than “our current one-size-fits-all education monopoly.”

What could the Utah Legislature do to help ease inflation and high gas prices?

Short said the monopolies need to be broken up wherever they exist and facilitate competition. That would lower prices. For example, allow the purchase of pharmaceuticals across state and national borders.

Short also said states that have introduced school choice have lower per-pupil education costs and better performance. He believes that there needs to continue to be innovation in energy production of all forms.

What do you think are most important to constituents in Southern Utah counties specifically and how would you address them?

The two things Short said he hears concerns about the most from people are affordable housing and property taxes. 

“The skyrocketing value of housing has resulted in large property tax increases for people who haven’t moved or sold their homes and therefore reap no benefit until their house sells. Many have no intent of selling their houses,” Short said. “I would resurrect a bill from 2021, SB 52, that passed the Senate.” 

Short said the incumbent was absent and missed the vote on SB 52. The bill failed in the House. SB 52 would have allowed those over 70 to defer payment of property taxes until their property is sold. Short said he’d seek to limit the degree to which a property’s value can be increased in any one year in which the property is not sold, which will help restrain the growth of taxes. 

Additionally, Short said the state is encouraging the growth of student populations at schools outside of the Wasatch Front, including Southern Utah University and Utah Tech, but makes no provisions for housing the additional students. 

“That action is increasing upward pressure on home values and, at least in the downtown core of Cedar City, resulting in the loss of affordable housing. The state must stop creating problems and leaving them to local communities to try to resolve,” Short said.

With water shortages and drought becoming a major concern in Utah, especially in the more arid southern regions, what is the state government’s role in securing water rights for the state? What are your thoughts on the viability of the Lake Powell Pipeline?

“Water rights are pretty much meaningless if the water doesn’t exist,” Short said.

Short noted that a major component of the problem is that taxes not directly related to water use – property, income, other general fund taxes – are used to subsidize water. So no one is paying the actual cost, he said.

“If we fixed that system and made sure that everyone, particularly large users, paid the actual cost of providing the water, there would be much more incentive for everyone to find ways to use water more wisely,” Short said. “I believe that would solve 90% of the problem.” 

As for the Lake Powell pipeline, Short finds the engineering impractical and the economics unworkable. He said he doesn’t see the people of Washington County tolerating $1,000 monthly water bills.


Check out all of St. George News’ coverage of the 2022 election by clicking here.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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