That was a main theme 2nd Congressional District candidates Jim Matheson and John Swallow zeroed in on during a debate Wednesday on the campus of Dixie State College in St. George.

The candidates answered questions ranging from the importance of working with other members of Congress to education and rural economic development in the debate sponsored by the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce.

Swallow, the Republican running for a second time against the Democratic incumbent, said a strong alliance with the conservative Western Caucus could be used as leverage by Utah to negotiate with strong Eastern delegations to relax restrictions on public lands.

In particular was the issue of what constitutes a public road. Swallow said multiple access to roads deemed public could allow development of natural resources in responsible ways to benefit the state.

Matheson cited his record of bipartisan efforts with his congressional colleagues, including a proposed a wilderness area in western Utah to try to block nuclear-plant waste storage proposed for the Goshute Indian Reservation. He also mentioned work with members of Nevada's congressional delegation to help protect habitat for the threatened sage grouse.

"To be effective, we have to work with both parties to advance the state's interests," Matheson said.

On economic development in the state, Swallow said for too long Utah's economic bounty has been in the northern region of the state while the southern area has been neglected.

"Utah doesn't end at Payson [in Utah County]," said Swallow. "It should be St. George."

He said what is needed is for more coal and timber resources to be developed to benefit those areas.

On the sale of public lands to fund education, Matheson said the matrix of public land ownership in Utah should be reworked to consolidate patchwork areas of ownership by different agencies into economically viable parcels.

He also said the federal government should be responsible for paying for education programs it mandates.

Swallow said it is difficult to reduce class size and pay for good teachers unless access to public lands is opened up to develop natural resources.

He said Utah has just 30 percent of the state to access for development and should follow the examples of Wyoming, Alaska and Nevada, with more liberal abilities to develop resources.

"If the Kaiparowits [Plateau] coal was developed, can you imagine the taxes generated to fund education?" asked Swallow. "Understand, the power [to develop] public lands is a sweet spot for the economy."

mhavnes@sltrib.com