Note to readers • Click here to find an interactive map where you can enter your address to see all the races on your ballot that have a voter guide from The Salt Lake Tribune.

Control of the Salt Lake County Council will be decided this year, and three candidates are vying for an at-large seat on the panel.

Incumbent Laurie Stringham, who has served on the council since 2021, lost to challenger Kathleen Anderson at the Salt Lake County GOP nominating convention in April. Anderson is running against Democrat Zach Robinson and Constitution party candidate Gregory Beglarian.

Anderson is a small business owner and self-described “community leader,” according to her website. Robinson, a former firefighter and paramedic who works in virtual care at University of Utah Health, has served two terms on the Sandy City Council, according to his website. Beglarian has served as a school bus driver in Canyons School District for the past decade, and is a frequent attendee at local public hearings, he said.

The council is currently made up of five Republicans and four Democrats. In addition to Stringham, two Republican incumbents announced they would not be running for reelection earlier this year, while one Democratic incumbent will seek to retain his seat this November.

Candidates submitted photos and answers through a questionnaire. Answers may have been edited for style and clarity. Candidate responses are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Mail ballots must be dropped off at a ballot dropbox by 8 p.m. on Election Day or, if returned by mail, must be received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Most voters in our survey said everyday affordability was the most important issue to them. What would you do to improve affordability for residents?

Anderson: My own kids cannot afford to buy a home in Salt Lake County. Property taxes and government spending drive inflation. The County Council does not set housing prices, rent, gas or grocery prices, but it does set county property and sales tax rates. I support no tax on food. Taxing Social Security is a state choice. Utah should end it. I will treat county tax hikes as a last resort. Like families, government should cut what it cannot afford and what no longer provides a worthwhile service.

Beglarian: My campaign promise to the people is this: I will vote “no” on every property tax increase proposal and all tax increase proposals. We the people are being gouged and taxed into insolvency. Groceries, goods and services are purposely excessively priced to put a strain on the economy, our households and finances. Are things expensive enough for us yet? Additionally, there is not a housing crisis. There is a gouging crisis in almost every aspect of our lives.

Robinson: Affordability is the top issue I hear about in the county, and it’s one on my mind for my own family. On the council, I’ll work to increase funding for low-income housing programs, incentivize the development of affordable housing, and expand first-time homebuyer programs. Continuing to support small businesses, expand affordable public transportation, address rising utility costs, and invest in essential social services are also important pieces to address affordability on every level.

Our survey respondents were concerned about government corruption. What would you do, as an elected official, to be transparent and ensure residents have confidence in government?

Anderson: I believe any abuse of taxpayer money is corruption. I’ve called that out for decades. As a former elementary PTA president, I signed a conflict-of-interest form stricter than what we require of our elected officials. That’s backwards. I support performance audits at every level — they are the sunshine we need. Readable budgets, posted votes, regular constituent hours. No one should have to guess who decided what or why. No decisions behind closed doors.

Beglarian: We the people are not represented. We are given the illusion that we are represented. We have lost our voices. We the people are in desperate need of a return to constitutional and limited government. We are seeing less and less accountability, responsibility and transparency while seeing a continual increase in blatant corruption, excessive taxation and poor representation. I will not go along with any corruption or wrongdoing. Government is bloated, obese and unhealthy. We deserve better.

Robinson: On the Sandy City Council, I built a reputation for transparency and accountability, listening to residents and making decisions based on what’s best for the community — not what’s politically easy. I’ll bring that same approach to the County Council: open communication with residents, accessible decision-making and a refusal to let backroom deals replace public input. People deserve a government that shows up, listens, and answers to them.

As drought and water shortages continue to affect our state, how should Salt Lake County protect its water resources?

Anderson: Salt Lake County government does not control water; municipalities and water districts do. In the unincorporated land we do control, especially Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon, watershed protection comes first. Don’t pollute streams that supply the valley. I also worry about stripping vegetation that cools the air. Phoenix is trying to reverse some of those decisions. I support conservation efforts that don’t make Utah hotter and drier.

Beglarian: There are many informative news and magazine articles out there that are titled “Water Wars.” And there are many corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and individuals who are willing to sell a city or town’s water to make money. Follow the money and see where the water goes. Problems and shortages can be purposely created so rates can be increased and unscrupulous people can make more money. We can protect our water resources by exposing who is selling us out.

Robinson: Salt Lake County must take water conservation seriously, encouraging responsible household use and also implementing smarter water policy tied to new development. Protecting the Great Salt Lake is critical — not just for our environment, but for public health and the economy, since a shrinking lake threatens to expose toxic dust into our air. I’ll push for real conservation strategies, coordinate with the state and neighboring counties, and ensure growth is paired with responsible water planning.

Salt Lake County instituted a moratorium on data centers until it could craft new rules for them. What guardrails should the county put in place for these projects?

Anderson: While the county doesn’t control zoning outside unincorporated areas, guardrails start with people, not permits. Require early mailed notice and a public hearing before any approval, not after deals have been struck. Residents along 3400 West in West Jordan have just learned this the hard way. Progress and respect aren’t mutually exclusive. Far too many taxpayers are tired of feeling like nothing but a source of revenue. These are our neighbors. They matter.

Beglarian: I believe in “power to the people.” If the people say “no,” then the answer is “no.” When decisions are left up to corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, city and county councils, we lose our voices and our choices. Now if a business wants to share the profits with the people of a town that they are proposing a data center for, that would be up to the people. But the best guardrail is empowering the people and leaving the decision up to them.

Robinson: I oppose the recent data center proposals that have come to our state, and I support putting strong guardrails in place for future proposals, such as requirements that data centers disclose water and energy use, mitigate infrastructure impacts, pay for their own energy consumption, and protect our environment and the surrounding community from negative impacts. Transparency is key, and our community deserves real input on any proposal upfront, not after the fact.

Will you accept the results of this election?

Anderson: Yes.

Beglarian: Yes.

Robinson: Yes.

Should Salt Lake County cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in any capacity that is not already required by law?

Anderson: No.

Beglarian: Yes.

Robinson: No.

What will be your top priority, if elected, as a council member?

Anderson: Eliminate wasteful and duplicative spending. Leadership matters. Salt Lake County should lead Utah in fiscal responsibility.

Beglarian: My priority is to offer the people genuine representation. The people are the bosses of the politicians, not the other way around.

Robinson: Lowering the cost of living for Salt Lake County families, from housing to childcare and senior services.