Mayoral candidates
Steve Buhler
Occupation: Attorney and District 2 City Council member.
As the Salt Lake Valley continues its booming growth, what are your solutions for affordable housing, preserving community character and creating a high quality of life for city residents?
High quality of life for West Valley City residents is akin to the phrase “pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence. It means different things to different people. To some, it means big houses with manicured lawns and gardens. To others, it means close access to public transit, shopping and entertainment. Others value parks, trails and open spaces. The key for the city is to support and promote variety so that people from all backgrounds and in all walks of life can find their own comfortable corner of the city. Although the cost of housing is market driven, the city can and should provide planning, quality standards and variety. Whether one lives in an apartment building, planned community or a neighborhood of single-family houses, what makes it home is being safe and comfortable in one’s surroundings. Above all, quality of life depends on confidence that you live in a safe place. That you have good neighbors. That you have adequate public safety resources to respond to emergencies. That is job one of city government.
Besides affordable housing, what are the two biggest challenges facing the city in the next four years, and what are some specific programs or policy changes you will introduce to solve them?
The two things I hear the most about are public safety and infrastructure. The hiring pool of good quality men and women wanting to serve as police officers and firefighters has been shrinking even as the population-driven need for the same has been rising. West Valley City must be competitive in salary, benefits, training and equipment to attract the best police officers and firefighters. We don’t just want to fill positions, we want to hire career-minded public servants whose heart is in the work and are the very best trained and qualified to provide the very best service to our residents. One challenge the city has and will always have is transportation. Although the city has three major highways running through it from the north to the south, it can be challenging to travel east and west because of the few major east-west roads we have. It is imperative to invest in the roads we have and to better take advantage of opportunities for public transit and alternative transportation.
What are your ideas for investing federal pandemic aid in the city, including funds left over from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act as well as funds from the American Rescue Plan Act?
Federal funding should never be considered as a windfall or free money. Whatever the program, it is always our tax dollars being returned to us to be spent appropriately and judiciously. Those federal funds should be spent on emergency preparedness so that we are better equipped, trained and coordinated to handle future crises.
What is a fun or unique fact about you?
I am not special in any way. I think that makes me unique.
Karen Lang
Occupation: Co-owner of Oakbridge Greenhouse and District 3 City Council member.
As the Salt Lake Valley continues its booming growth, what are your solutions for affordable housing, preserving community character and creating a high quality of life for city residents?
Through alignment of zoning, we have allowed for categories from affordable housing to large single-family dwellings. Through this alignment of zoning, taxes and subsidies, we have opened our city to every level of homebuyer. West Valley City is a large city that is fortunate to still offer a hometown feel. Our residents are often lifelong residents who enjoy a sense of community. Our residents look out for one another and work to have the best available to their neighbors. Just this year, many neighborhood celebrations have taken place offering communities an opportunity to celebrate together after a long hard year.
Besides affordable housing, what are the two biggest challenges facing the city in the next four years, and what are some specific programs or policy changes you will introduce to solve them?
As with any city of similar size, West Valley City faces many challenges. One of the issues is our lack of developable property. We will have to efficiently develop our remaining land assets, and make sure any development we authorize aligns with the city’s 50-year plan, and the best option for the residents. One of the things I feel that we as a council/mayor team do well is address issues when they arise and work hard together to solve the problems before they become major issues.
What are your ideas for investing federal pandemic aid in the city, including funds left over from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act as well as funds from the American Rescue Plan Act?
Our city is economically solvent and keeps a balanced budget. Any funds available to be distributed through federal funding would be used to better our city for our residents. Funding for Emergency preparedness and restoration of struggling businesses affected by the pandemic are a couple of the areas I feel funding could be spent.
What is a fun or unique fact about you?
I am the proud owner of a much-pampered 1969 Mustang convertible.
City Council candidates
At-large candidates
Lindie Sue Beaudoin
Lars Nordfelt
Jim Vesock
District 2
Chris Bell
Scott Harmon
District 4
Darrell R. Curtis
Jake Fitisemanu Jr.
