The incumbent in Utah’s Senate District 7 — and the state’s top lawmaker — has faced mounting criticism as one of the key decision-makers advancing a proposal to build a controversial hyperscale data center in Box Elder County.

And although Senate President J. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, published a letter to the celebrity investor pitching the project in which he appears to backpedal his support, at least one opponent in the upcoming GOP primary is highlighting Adams’ role facilitating Stratos’ possible development in her message to voters.

The longtime lawmaker has also been criticized this last year after The Salt Lake Tribune first reported that the Senate president initiated a change to Utah law that ended up helping a relative who was facing child rape charges —Adams denied any wrongdoing. And, in December, The Utah Investigative Journalism Project reported that Adams may have benefited from selling land to the Utah Department of Transportation for a highway expansion. Adams declined to respond to the story.

Former Weber State University general counsel Stephanie Hollist and once-legislative lawyer Braden Hess are challenging Adams in the Republican primary on June 23. The winner of that race will face Democrat Garret Rushforth and Constitution Party candidate Jeffrey Ostler. Senate District 7 includes portions of Davis and Morgan counties.

Hollist qualified for the primary ballot by collecting signatures. While Adams gathered enough signatures to secure his return to the primary, he also received the highest percentage of delegate support at the Utah Republican Party’s nominating convention.

Hess — who didn’t collect signatures — trailed Adams in each of three rounds of voting, but ultimately sustained enough support to be co-nominated with Adams.

The Salt Lake Tribune posed the following questions, based on a reader survey about the issues Utahns felt were most important this election season, to each of the two primary candidates. Their answers — listed in alphabetical order by last name — may have been edited slightly for length, style or grammar. Adams and Hess did not respond to multiple requests to fill out the survey.

A plurality of voters, more than 30%, said elected official corruption is the primary issue driving who they’ll vote for, with another nearly 14% of voters saying it is their second-highest issue. Why are so many Utah voters concerned about corruption in politics? How will you build trust with Utahns?

Adams: Did not answer.

Hess: Did not answer.

Hollist: Our government, including our state Legislature, under the direction of Senate President J. Stuart Adams, has been eroding the trust of the public for a while now. Our conservative values will not stand for backdoor self-dealing. I taught government ethics for over 10 years. Trust is earned by being true to your word, being open and honest, and actively seeking to include and share the voices of the people you serve. That is what I will do to build trust.

After corruption, more than 16% of Utah voters said everyday affordability — like the cost of housing, groceries, gas, etc — is the first thing on their minds as they vote this year. Another 15% said it is their second-highest issue.What will you do to help make life more affordable for Utahns?

Adams: Did not answer.

Hess: Did not answer.

Hollist: My focus will be on putting more funding back into taxpayer pockets, starting by cutting taxpayer-funded programs that are not operating efficiently, not meeting expectations or serving special interests, like developers.

Meaningful tax breaks that have more than a minuscule impact on our actual wallets, but don’t force unfunded mandates on counties and school districts, so they end up having to raise taxes elsewhere to keep providing for education and services. We know how to do this, but we’ll need to be willing to call out boondoggles and waste. I am.

Utah has experienced drought for much of the last two decades. The availability of water is the third-most-pressing issue for voters this year.What can elected officials do to ensure Utahns have enough water for the future?

Adams: Did not answer.

Hess: Did not answer.

Hollist: Start by not building massive data centers without appropriately vetting their impact on our water and resources. My opponent is the chair of MIDA, the government agency that is trying to force these types of projects without transparency and listening to people’s voices. This shows a lack of true care for our resources and our concerns.

We need solutions that incorporate technology, policy and incentives to find better ways to recycle water, incentivize good water usage, build better drip irrigation systems and create stronger coordination between users.

Should the state continue to pursue nuclear energy? What can be done to address Utah’s growing energy needs?

Adams: Did not answer.

Hess: Did not answer.

Hollist: Yes. Utah needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy focused on reliability, affordability and transparency. We should invest in energy generation, transmission and grid improvements while requiring honest analysis of the long-term impacts of large energy users like data centers. Major decisions should be driven by facts, public input and responsible stewardship of our resources — not backroom deals.

In 2018, voters narrowly passed the Better Boundaries initiative, creating an independent redistricting commission and prohibiting partisan gerrymandering. The Legislature’s attempts to significantly weaken the Better Boundaries initiative spawned years of litigation, culminating in a court adopting new congressional boundaries. Who should be responsible for drawing Utah’s political boundaries? Why?

Adams: Did not answer.

Hess: Did not answer.

Hollist: The constitution states that the legislature should be responsible for drawing Utah’s political boundaries. At the same time, the constitution also states that all political power is inherent in the people and they can reform government. Importantly, it allows voters to elect their legislators. This means legislators listen to the constituents they serve or be voted out of office. Our legislature should be transparent about what they are doing and why; take into consideration good, independent data and information; and follow the will of the people in the creation of the maps.

Is there an imbalance of power between the Legislature and the courts? If so, what should be done about it?

Adams: Did not answer.

Hess: Did not answer.

Hollist: I believe in the Constitution and the balance our founders wisely created by forming three independent branches of government that can keep each other in check. We should focus on those principles and be skeptical when any branch acts in a way to exert more power that would upset the balance.

What do you believe is the most pressing issue before voters this year? What can be done to address it?

Adams: Did not answer.

Hess: Did not answer.

Hollist: The most pressing issue for my district is accountability. When we have a legislator that has been in office, unchallenged, for so long, a disconnection grows and they get insulated, seeking to serve other interests than ours.

My district needs someone who is connected and will represent their voices, ethically and transparently. I have served public interests for over 20 years and created policy systems that brought people together to find workable solutions.

I will do that for us, finding solutions to address affordability, housing, protecting our resources and education. Together.