West Jordan voter guide 2023

Mayoral candidates

Dirk Burton

Occupation: Electrical contractor, business owner, current West Jordan mayor.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

I regularly get out to connect with and listen to residents about what they are experiencing and their concerns. As we address housing affordability, we cannot ignore the needs of our current residents. I’m a free-market guy and believe we need to provide a variety of options in housing, driven by demand and protection of property rights. I support more options, including smaller lot and house sizes; places like condos and town homes for people to own at a lower cost and maintenance level; owner-occupied accessory dwellings units (ADUs); and apartments.

Whatever the option, it needs to be a reasonable fit in the area and have adequate infrastructure. I will continue to focus on maintaining an economic base to support residential growth, and I will continue to vigorously advocate for innovative, effective and sufficient infrastructure to address the legitimate concerns of current residents and reduce resistance to growing our communities.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

Homelessness is a multifaceted issue that cannot be solved by simply providing housing. Public safety is engaged, helping people find shelter, including ensuring they have a way to get there and find resources to assist in permanent solutions. We have “code blue” facilities for warming without interfering with residents. I’ve been actively helping secure funding for statewide homeless services, and we have paid a significant amount to help Salt Lake City offset costs as it bears the brunt of the effects of homelessness. Our City Hall remodel includes an office for the domestic violence shelter to increase safety for the actual shelter. We host a yearly car show to support the Children’s Justice Center and have a city cold weather drive for those in need.

Personally, I purposefully engage with people who are homeless, assisting where possible and building relationships that can lead to stabilization efforts when they make that choice.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

Keeping taxes low while providing essential services and amenities key to residents’ quality of life is a constant challenge. With inflation and challenges keeping qualified public safety personnel, we must be vigilant in setting priorities and working toward greater efficiency. My first budget proposal was the first balanced budget in decades, putting an end to deficit spending and hoping for the best. We made significant cuts and combined functions to balance the budget, plan for future needs, and prepare for tough times. I’ve also worked hard to replace businesses that closed and support local entrepreneurs to maintain a strong business community and reduce reliance on taxes from residents. Staying connected to residents can be challenging. Elected officials often get busy with their duties and forget to get out of the office to hear from the people. I’ve prioritized being intentional and creative to connect with and hear from regular folks.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

Sometimes I wear fun hats because they break down walls and open up conversations that might not otherwise happen.

Kayleen Whitelock

No response.

City Council candidates

District 1

Rulon Green

Occupation: Police officer.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

I would work with developers and with lenders to find more financing options for those who are struggling to afford housing. I would work with the programs that are currently in place to inform people of the options through the Utah Housing Authority and obtain low-income housing tax credits to encourage homeownership and down payment assistance. In my experience, there are a lot of people who aren’t informed of the resources available to homebuyers. Affordable housing is a must, and homes are needed to accommodate. When we speak of higher-density housing, it has to be planned with current residents in mind and have the infrastructure to support the increase and impact on the community, which means public safety, roads, water and utilities. The higher-density units should be built where the impact would be the lowest impact for current residents.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

Typically, first responders are the ones who get the initial call in dealing with the homeless. The first responders arrive on the scene and ensure the person is OK, and there is no medical aid needed and further resources are provided to the homeless for shelter of places they can go for further assistance. There are many nonprofit organizations that provide even further assistance that I have worked with in my own experiences as a first responder such as Unsheltered Utah. I contacted Unsheltered Utah and a crew arrived on the scene, picked up the person who was able to track down his family members in Cedar City, contact them and arrange a bus ticket home to his family. I think West Jordan should work in conjunction with these organizations to streamline assistance with any current or future homeless West Jordan may be facing. West Jordan has the Mckinney-Vento program that allows schools to help homeless students who may not have support they need to succeed and stay in school.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

West Jordan is the third largest city in the state. I think that we could promote and market the fact that we are and get businesses excited about moving into West Jordan. In my experiences speaking with the community in West Jordan, there has been a disconnect with the City Council and the residents living here. I want to bring back the community feel of West Jordan and get the community involved in making West Jordan an even greater place to live!

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I have run the Salt Lake City Marathon the past couple of years and have never been a runner my whole life, until I went through the police academy.

Chad Lamb

Occupation: Marketing.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

West Jordan has a variety of housing options available throughout the city. The city is mainly made up of single-family homes, but, similar to other cities, more high-density options have been built in the past few years. It is important for every city to have a good mix of housing, from low to high, and that the infrastructure is in place to support those living in the city. I can support higher density if it is needed and in areas that make sense and that can handle the influx of people that higher density can bring to the city.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

City leaders should be working with both the county and the state to provide necessary services for the homeless. Homelessness does not just affect larger cities like Salt Lake City, it affects all cities. While it has not been a big issue in West Jordan, I have seen an influx of homeless in different areas of the city over the past few years. We need to understand how we can help these people who are affected and make sure they are able to find a way to get out of the situation that has caused homelessness.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

Growth is the biggest challenge West Jordan currently faces. How do we handle the numbers of new homes being built on the west side of the city? How do we support those who are already living here in West Jordan and make sure they are being taken care of? Growth has affected all of us – from traffic to infrastructure to public safety. In the end, that affects costs and the need for more income to the city budget to pay for these services. The mayor and City Council need to work in tandem to handle growth and follow a plan that brings the best of everything to the city.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I am bilingual — Spanish speaking. Love to speak in Spanish whenever possible.

District 2

Bob Bedore

Occupation: Marketing director/comedian.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

I’m for making sure that the right means are in the right places. Simply saying that we need more higher-density housing might not be taking into account all the information. Is the infrastructure in place to handle those residents — schools, for example? In an area that is equipped to hold this type of housing, I’m all for it. But let’s not just force things and make a bad situation worse. The right thing at the right time in the right place.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

West Jordan is a city where the unhoused are not as apparent as they might be in other cities. This may be good for many residents but can make it especially tough to know whom to help. My goal would be to make sure that those who need the help will feel they can not only get it but also feel safe in coming forward and asking for help. We need to all be good citizens and look out for one another. We need to remember that at any time our situation could change. I want to make sure that the shelters in our city and in the cities around us are ready to help and have what they need. And that residents keep on the lookout for those they can help. We are too divided these days, and it’s time we band together to make a positive difference.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

West Jordan is the third largest city in Utah, but at times it acts like the 30th. There is very little representation at a statewide level for the city, and I think that has left us in the dust. I love my city, but I can see the difference when I drive into other cities. I’m tired of wondering why we can’t have that same feeling. I want West Jordan to stand up and be recognized. I want to build bridges and relationships so that we can course-correct and put West Jordan on a path toward a brighter future. You would be hard pressed to find another “third largest city” in America without a new car dealership. That may seem small, but it is a lot of sales tax to other cities. And I want West Jordan to have a true identity.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I am a former TV weatherman and founder of Quick Wits Comedy Improv.

Gary Leany

Occupation: Self-employed.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

No response.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

No response.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

No response.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I love to ride mountain trails on my Can-Am side-by-side.

District 3

Zach Jacob

Occupation: Marketing consultant.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

I support higher-density housing where it makes sense, near high-capacity roads (arterial streets, highways) and transit. I also support deregulating accessory dwelling units (ADUs), opting instead to tackle the real issues that may arise instead of the fear-based approach of what some may expect to happen should ADUs become more prevalent.

I also advocate for a wider variety of housing types, including options like apartments or condos over retail, different types of town homes, etc. Another issue I plan on improving is better communicating actual impacts on existing residents, so as to minimize the “not in my backyard” objections that make increasing housing stock an uphill battle.

One more aspect of better housing is making sure the infrastructure is in place before developments come in. Roads, utilities and amenities, all add to the cost of development if they’re not addressed in advance.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

West Jordan’s responsibility is to work with state and county officials in helping to ensure that proper resources are in place, both through publicly funded and charitable means. I’m focused on creating jobs through economic development and creating affordable housing to reduce the number of unsheltered persons in the first place.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

Our biggest challenge is our biggest opportunity: Growth. West Jordan must bridge the gap between our community’s needs and the development policies that shape our city. We must champion smart urban planning — for example, advocating for compact, mixed-use developments that minimize urban sprawl and the need for extensive commuting while preserving our resources.

We must promote sustainable infrastructure, open spaces and transportation, which includes roads and transit, and safeguard our environment while enhancing our residents’ quality of life. We must ensure that the concerns and values of our residents and stakeholders are reflected in our zoning regulations, preserving the character of our neighborhoods while allowing for the future.

Additionally, we must encourage responsible business practices and foster a strong local economy to provide a solid foundation for our city’s growth. We can honor our past while planning for a bright, exciting future for West Jordan.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I’m a huge baseball fan, cheering passionately for my two teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, and anyone who’s playing the Yankees!

Sterling Morris

No response.

District 4

David F. Pack

Occupation: Teacher and small-business owner.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

To provide more affordable housing options for residents, I have always lobbied for, and been successful in obtaining, lower-density housing developments that surround adjacent communities. Recognizing the necessity of providing housing for all segments of the community, I ensure that higher density is centered more around public transit and other buffered areas to ensure green space. This also provides more affordable housing options amid our unprecedented real estate market prices.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

Addressing homelessness, I have been vocally active in ensuring we have services and locations to keep people from becoming homeless, to assist them in their homelessness, and to help them become more self-sufficient.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

The biggest challenge our city faces is keeping fees and utilities from skyrocketing. The way that I have successfully lobbied for this to happen is to be instrumental in establishing our city’s philosophy of having incremental, inflationary-based increases that only match market rates of goods and services. In this manner we are able to retain good employees and keep residents’ taxes lower.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I enjoy theater, having acted, produced and directed over 100 performances. I am also an avid tennis player and supporter.

Kent Shelton

Occupation: Commercial photographer.

If elected, what would you do to provide more affordable housing options to your residents? Would you support higher-density housing?

I will support higher-density developments but only when they are in the right location in our city. This may be in locations close to major arterial roads or near public transit such as Utah Transit Authority TRAX stops. Unfortunately, developers often push for high-density developments in areas where they are not a good fit because higher-density developments yield a greater return on investment. While we need to respect the rights of property owners when they want to develop their land, we need to stop the high-density developments when they are not a good fit in our neighborhoods. We need to protect our residents who bear the long-term burdens of overly dense developments in their neighborhoods.

What is your city’s responsibility in addressing homelessness, and what would you do within the boundaries of your community to help unhoused Utahns?

Preserving a good quality of life for West Jordan residents will be my top priority. Some of the homeless population can bring crime to our city. While we want to help the homeless, crime is not welcome in our city. That said, we should all be looking for ways to help the homeless. I am a big supporter of The Other Side Academy. Not long ago, I had the opportunity to tour its campus in downtown Salt Lake City. It opened my eyes to the fact that homelessness is not hopeless. If proposed in the right location, I would support a West Jordan campus for The Other Side Academy. The Other Side Academy teaches personal accountability and helps people transition out of homelessness.

Besides affordable housing or homelessness, what is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how would you address it?

I believe the biggest challenge our city faces is its growth. We have a lot of undeveloped land in West Jordan, and it needs to be built up correctly. We also have a lot of land that is going to be repurposed over the next few years. It is critical that we balance our growth with our ability to serve that growth with infrastructure such as water, sewer and transportation. We also need to encourage smart growth in the commercial sector. With my bachelor of science in geography from the University of Utah, I have an understanding of how to fit the puzzle pieces of land use together in ways that make sense and will serve our residents for years to come.

What is a fun or unique fact about yourself?

I’m the new chorister in my church congregation. I’m learning how to do it, but it can be so embarrassing.