A Park City resident running to represent a large part of the Wasatch Back is frustrated about legislators writing laws that benefit developers.

Jeffrey Pierce, who says he’s a seventh-generation Utahn, is focused on keeping planning and zoning local and said the state is reaching a “boiling point” over perceptions that lawmakers represent developers over their constituents.

Pierce is running against Luke Searle for the Republican nomination and a chance to replace Mike Kohler, who said he isn’t running for reelection to the seat representing Wasatch County and parts of Summit County in and around Park City.

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 candidate. Their answers — listed in alphabetical order by last name — may have been edited slightly for length, style or grammar.

Searle, who grew up in the Heber Valley and serves on the Wasatch County Council, 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?

Jeffrey Pierce: The core issue is that 541 bills were passed last year, and most don’t see any benefit from any of them. With constant feedback that central state planning through legislation is overriding their ability to self-govern and determine their own local zoning and planning. The legislature writes new legislation for developers each year, often at the expense of the voters.

This is why I entered the race. I’ve largely self-funded my campaign so I can represent the district’s interests without conflicts, and I’m prepared to fight developer lobbyist influence.

Luke Searle: Did not respond.

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?

Pierce: The core issue is that the state has been attempting to centrally plan local economies in Utah without input from the communities. This ‘economic development,’ as it’s dubbed, has had devastating consequences, with short-term demand spikes leading to precipitous housing cost increases, and pressure on local resources, which in turn causes price spikes.

I want to be a voice for local control, which should alleviate many of these issues. I believe that the state should be a resource for local governments, not dictating to them. Common-sense legislation to give back local control will be a focus of mine.

Searle: Did not respond.

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?

Pierce: This also goes back to local planning. No one knows their resource pool better than local governments, which is why SB258, the “Municipal Incorporation Amendments”, will be so devastating to the Wasatch Back if it’s not seriously curtailed or repealed in the upcoming session. Giving developers broad authorities to create megacities in our counties and overriding local zoning and planning has created chaos with all local resources, water included.

Searle: Did not respond.

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

Pierce: Yes. Slow down development, let local municipalities do the planning for their communities and this problem will naturally solve itself. The top-down “economic development” being pushed by the state has caused resource shortages across the board (housing, water, energy) and has turned Utah from one of the most affordable states to one of the least. So much so that rather than attracting young families, many are actually leaving the state for Texas or Florida. No one knows the resource needs better than the communities themselves; the state should be their support, not the planning authority.

Searle: Did not respond.

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?

Pierce: The Utah State Constitution gives exclusive power to the legislature to draw congressional maps. I don’t have any intention of seeking a constitutional amendment to change that.

Searle: Did not respond.

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

Pierce: I believe that the process for picking judges to courts should be streamlined, to match how it’s done at the federal level, with the governor selecting the judge and the senate confirming the picks. Many voters don’t understand that the governor selects judges from a pool curated by an unelected (and democratically unaccountable) group, as provided in the state’s constitution. I believe eliminating this commission would provide more democratic accountability and transparency to the judicial nomination process.

Searle: Did not respond.

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

Pierce: We’re reaching a boiling point in tensions between the perception that our legislature represents developers over the people who elect them.

I hope voters will carefully consider the funding behind each candidate and begin to evaluate which candidate can represent his/her own district without the conflicts of special interest groups. I entered this race to raise awareness of the problem of big money in our primaries and politics and why the legislature is passing annual laws that benefit developers at the cost of the community. I hope my candidacy is the beginning of needed change.

Searle: Did not respond.