Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski will face one challenger in her bid for another term at the suburb’s helm.
City Council member Cyndi Sharkey is seeking to unseat Zoltanski in the Nov. 4 election.
The Salt Lake Tribune sent a survey to candidates in Salt Lake County’s municipal mayoral elections. Answers may be edited for style and clarity. Here’s how Sharkey and Zoltanski 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?
Sharkey: Affordability is one of the biggest problems we face in Sandy. We’ve squeezed out our oldest generation and our youngest from being able to live in our city. And while we’re not responsible for all the increased costs that are burdening our families and businesses, we don’t need to add to them. I’m proud to be the only candidate endorsed by the Utah Taxpayers Association for my unwavering commitment to keep taxes low and fight wasteful spending. The best way to keep taxes low is to invite economic growth. Attracting economic growth takes relationships, reputation, trust and collaboration.
Zoltanski: I guard every tax dollar to keep Sandy’s services high, infrastructure strong, and costs low through fiscal discipline, innovation and economic growth. The average Sandy homeowner pays about $400 a year for services — one of the lowest tax rates in the county — for police, fire, parks, roads, snow removal, and bulk waste pickup. Thriving businesses fund the rest. I oppose the taxpayer-funded gondola —Sandy families shouldn’t be taxed $1,200 for something most will never use. Last year we added 700-plus new businesses, 1,600 jobs and the NHL training facility. Businesses fuel Sandy’s future.
What transportation improvements will you pursue to help residents get around easily, quickly and safely?
Sharkey: As mayor, and a former planning commissioner and City Council member, I know that with growth comes traffic unless transportation planning is at the forefront of city planning. Effective traffic circulation, sufficient parking, but also walkability and effective public transit solutions are critical factors. Working with our transportation partners rather than threatening and suing them is always going to get the best result for our community, our neighborhoods and the design of a well-planned city.
Zoltanski: We’re building a safer, more connected Sandy by protecting our established neighborhoods from high density while creating new, transit-centered housing between TRAX and Interstate 15. A future pedestrian bridge over I-15 will link FrontRunner commuters to new housing and shopping near City Hall. This will give people more affordable housing options. As mayor, I updated our general plan, which creates future walkable communities and bike-friendly trails. I’ve brought home over $35 million in state and federal grants for new roads and bridges already built in my first term, saving our taxpayers the bill.
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?
Sharkey: As your mayor, I can be trusted to continue my track record of avoiding tax increases and wasteful spending. I’m proposing to slash the mayor’s pay by turning back the clock eight years and accepting the wage from 2017 — back before mayors were accepting big pay raises in Sandy. I want to restore trust in the mayor’s office, and I have a record to prove that I put taxpayers first. Sandy is mostly built out, with little room to grow. But as growth continues in the state and our city, one of the biggest challenges is preserving the things we love about Sandy, without letting it become Salt Lake City.
Zoltanski: Housing affordability starts with vision and planning. As mayor, I led our two-year, citizen-informed general plan update that adds new housing, jobs, restaurants and shopping close to transit, while protecting our single-family neighborhoods from apartments and congestion. Because of Sandy’s proactive approach, we now qualify for state incentive funds that help build parking and owner-occupied, income-targeted housing. This balance eases pressure on built-out areas while creating modern, well-priced housing near transit, so more people who work in Sandy can afford to live here, too.
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?
Sharkey: No.
Zoltanski: No.
If elected, would you advocate for your community to conserve more water to aid the Great Salt Lake?
Sharkey: Yes.
Zoltanski: Yes.
What’s a fun or interesting fact about yourself?
Sharkey: One of the most formative experiences of my life was climbing Half Dome in Yosemite and spending the night on top. I’ve never seen stars like that, and the experience made me appreciate the natural world in a way that has stayed with me long after.
Zoltanski: My first job was a paper route at age 12, riding a heavy farm bike miles up a country road in all kinds of weather. That work ethic never left — I still roll up my sleeves to help where I can make a difference. Serving others is the best part of being mayor.