One of the Legislature’s most successful Democrats is facing a primary challenge from a local educator.

Utah Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, running for reelection in Senate District 14, has focused on criminal justice issues during her time as a lawmaker. Her challenger in the primary, Tayler Khater, worked in the Utah public school system as a teacher and principal.

The Salt Lake City district leans heavily Democratic, and no Republican has filed to run. The primary election winner will be the de facto general election winner.

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 both candidates. Their responses — listed in alphabetical order — may have been edited slightly for length, style or grammar.

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

Khater: Relentless focus. Building trust with my neighbors requires relentless focus on the needs of our district by maintaining a constant working relationship with local leaders such as mayors, city council members, local businesses, and faith/community groups. As an educator of 15 years, over 10 of which I served in this community; building these coalitions is an ongoing relationship I look forward to maintaining and using as a foundation to proactively sponsoring legislation that addresses the needs of the majority of our community rather than reliance on direction from special interests.

Pitcher: Utahns are concerned because we have watched elected officials pull funding for critical services, fail to take meaningful action on the Great Salt Lake, inadequately fund public education, repeatedly challenge an independent redistricting commission that voters passed, and approve a massive data center over widespread public objection. I’ll continue to build trust with Utahns by remaining genuinely accountable to the concerns of my constituents, remaining open and transparent in my voting record, and by advocating fiercely for the issues that matter most in my district and in our state.

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?

Khater: Affordable childcare can be achieved with partnerships between school districts who can rent their unused facilities at significantly lower rates to local child care providers. Reducing food and housing insecurity for seniors can be mitigated through removing income tax from social security and requirements that includes service such as delivering meals to seniors in need as part of state driver license requirements. Alternatively, legislating greater control for cities to hold developers accountable for the type of housing they construct would yield more accessible housing for our neighbors.

Pitcher: Affordability means housing families can access, childcare that doesn’t require parents to work a second job, and a marketplace that isn’t rigged against consumers. I’ve championed legislation on each of these issues: renter credit reporting to help families build toward homeownership, eviction record reform to remove barriers to housing, expanding childcare access, and cracking down on surveillance pricing that raises costs for Utah families. These are affordability issues that I am already doing the work on, and I’ll continue to fight for meaningful solutions in the state senate.

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?

Khater: Meaningful change needs to start with a strong foundation in understanding that water scarcity is inextricably linked to the health of the Great Salt Lake. While it goes without saying that we need to increase funding for the Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s Office, we also need to ensure we are introducing Lake health as a standard in fourth and seventh grades while working to build coalitions with groups intimately aware of how to manage water resources, such as ranchers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Pitcher: Public officials need to treat water conservation like the impending crisis that it is. We need to invest in agricultural water efficiency programs, reduce corporate water waste, modernize infrastructure, and increase funding to restore water levels to the Great Salt Lake. Future growth planning needs to match water supply realities. We cannot support massive data centers while our Great Salt Lake runs dry. Smart water policy requires regional cooperation and long-term vision. If we fail to act, the consequences for public health, air quality, and the environment will be severe.

Should the state continue to pursue nuclear energy, yes or no? What can be done to address Utah’s growing energy needs?

Khater: [Did not respond to yes or no question regarding nuclear energy.] Utah is already using renewable energy to power 22% of our energy needs, an encouraging trend that can be dramatically increased by following the example of small Utah towns that are working to build reliable renewable energy options alongside fossil fuels until those renewable options can support the entirety of their energy needs. Thoughtful development and phased adoption of renewable energy will ensure its ultimate success in replacing fossil fuels and should be championed at the state level.

Pitcher: No. Utah’s energy policy should focus on reducing pollution, protecting public health, and preparing for long-term growth. That means expanding solar and geothermal energy, improving battery storage and transmission infrastructure, and reducing emissions that worsen air quality along the Wasatch Front. We should also increase energy efficiency standards to lower costs for families and businesses. Utah can meet growing demand without sacrificing clean air, water, or the health of our communities, and I’ll continue working on legislation that balances these priorities in the senate.

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?

Khater: The Independent redistricting commission that voters chose should be the definitive body that determines our boundaries.

Pitcher: An independent redistricting commission has this purview, and this is exactly what Utahns voted for in 2018. Elected officials should reflect the communities they represent; we cannot have a system where those in power are able to split districts up for their political profit. Voters should choose their politicians, not the other way around. I support the independent commission framework, with transparent processes and with ample public input. I’ve stood strong on this front and am proud to have the endorsement of Better Boundaries.

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

Khater: While the spirit of Montesquieu guided the organization of our government, it is clear that eroding the distinctive powers of government branches is a priority for a certain political party that seeks to mandate its will at all costs. It is critical that we work to repeal SB134 and reestablish the divisions of our court and legislative system to ensure laws and rights are balanced.

Pitcher: Yes. Over the past couple years the legislature has passed bills meant to undermine judicial independence. It has retaliated against the courts for decisions it dislikes, packed the supreme court, stripped judicial review, and amended court processes to further its own objectives. We must respect the constitutional separation of powers and stop punishing the courts for rulings the supermajority dislikes. As an attorney and state senator, I’m committed to defending judicial independence from aggressive overreach, and I’ve consistently voted against bills seeking to undermine judicial authority.

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

Khater: Affordability is the most pressing issue for the vast majority of voters and is expressed in the dramatic statistics of food and housing insecurity across the state that have swelled over the last several years. Addressing these needs via increased funding for public education, removing income tax from social security, and supporting increased funding for education about the Lake and for the Office of the Great Sale Lake Commissioner’s office is critical!

Pitcher: The most pressing issue this year is Utahns’ declining trust in government. The Legislature has redrawn political maps to its benefit, overridden voters, and fast-tracked projects over public objection. That undermines everything else. You can’t fix water, housing, clean air, or affordability in a system that continuously ignores you. Utahns keep showing up at the Capitol, at county meetings, and in their communities, and politicians keep shutting them out. That must change. I’ll keep fighting for our environment, our community, and a government that actually answers to those who live here.