Editor’s note • Candidate Tina Snow contacted The Salt Lake Tribune after this voter guide was published on Tuesday, Oct. 14, to say that she never received the survey, and therefore, did not respond. Before publication, The Tribune repeatedly tried to reach Snow using the contact information she provided to the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office. In the interest of providing as much information as possible to Kearns voters, The Tribune offered her the opportunity to fill out the survey after the guide was published. This guide has now been updated with her responses.
Since 2018, Kelly Bush has led the Salt Lake County suburb of Kearns, helping it become incorporated as a city. Now, she’s stepping aside and two candidates are battling to replace her.
Tina Snow — who will appear on ballots as Tina Marie Snow — is the current vice chair of the Kearns City Council. Jesse Valdez — who will appear on ballots as Michael Jesse Xon Valdez — is a former ABC 4 journalist and currently works for the Utah Department of Corrections as a communications specialist.
The Salt Lake Tribune sent a survey to candidates in Salt Lake County’s Nov. 4 municipal mayoral elections. Answers may be edited for style and clarity. Here’s how Snow and Valdez responded, listed in alphabetical order by last name:
Outside of housing or transportation, what is the biggest problem your community faces and how would you overcome it?
Snow: Keep programming, whether it be for our youth, health services or other services in Kearns. We should have programs that are consistent and available for the long term. It has been a challenge for years to find committed programming.
Valdez: My focus is building a stronger, safer and more connected Kearns. Our community spirit has declined, leading to less engagement and more crime. I’ll launch “Kearns Connected,” an initiative with two parts: rebuilding neighborhood watch programs with the Unified Police Department and investing in civic spaces and events like a “Kearns Summer Series” and community gardens. My role is to be a champion for you, working with leaders to secure funding and build a community we can all be proud of.
What transportation improvements will you pursue to help residents get around easily, quickly and safely?
Snow: Discussions around microtransit are actively happening. The idea for microtransit comes from cities across the nation whose challenge is getting residents to and from their destinations because of high amounts of traffic, lacking access to automobiles or the desire to be part of cutting pollution. Microtransit is a community-based transportation system with a main focus on us as the community and our travel needs.
Valdez: I’ll prioritize a balanced transportation strategy for Kearns. First, I will advocate for smarter road and intersection improvements, especially on busy corridors like 5400 and 4700 South, by optimizing traffic signals and maintaining our current infrastructure. Second, I will enhance public transit by partnering with the Utah Transit Authority and make our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists by implementing the Kearns Active Transportation Plan. I’ll champion a “Complete Streets” vision, ensuring all road projects benefit everyone, regardless of how they get around.
Utah is now tied with Idaho and Rhode Island for the seventh most expensive housing market in the nation. As mayor, how will you approach affordability, growth and growing pains in your city?
Snow: We are already suffering growing pains as our population continues to grow and available, affordable housing is falling short. Development has to be accomplished using innovative ideas around the needs for both commercial businesses and housing. Having discussions with the developers that are planning on building in our city to discuss what Kearns needs, where the shortfalls are and what data is readily available to compare the housing market to our household incomes and economic needs is necessary.
Valdez: My commitment is to lower your property taxes and protect essential services. To do this, we must strengthen Kearns’s economic base through smart commercial development. I will lead a push to make our city more business-friendly with pro-business zoning and new partnerships. I’ll also create a mentorship program to help local entrepreneurs thrive. By growing our sales tax revenue and creating jobs, we can protect your home from rising tax burdens.
Immigration has been an important issue in many communities, especially in those that are considering law enforcement partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Would you support such a partnership in your community?
Snow: No.
Valdez: No.
If elected, would you advocate for your community to conserve more water to aid the Great Salt Lake?
Snow: Yes.
Valdez: Yes.
What’s a fun or interesting fact about yourself?
Snow: I owned an in-home child care serving the families of Kearns. I have had the amazing opportunity to serve generations of children and many of those families still stay in contact today.
Valdez: Growing up my dad always tried to get me into sports, but I didn’t care much for them. Funnily enough, I later became a late bloomer, not only growing to love sports but creating an entire club to manage multiple teams and build community.