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A significant portion of the burgeoning community of West Jordan falls into House District 39, as well as parts of Midvale and Sandy.

The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Ken Ivory, who served in the House from 2011 to 2019 before leaving, then returning to fill a vacancy in the seat two years later.

In recent years, Ivory has passed bills to allow the state to begin investing tens of millions of dollars in gold, and tried to pass a bill to allow individuals to transact some business using gold.

Howells is an Air Force veteran and worked to help pass the 2018 ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana, according to his website.

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 candidates.

Ivory did not respond. Howells’ answers may have been edited slightly for length, style or grammar.

Election Day is Nov. 3. 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.

Utah voters told us government corruption is their top concern in this year’s election. Why do you think voters feel this way? And why should Utahns trust you to represent them?

Howells: I understand why voters feel this way, because I’ve seen it firsthand. Working on Proposition 2 and the Utah Medical Cannabis Act showed me how money, insider access and backroom influence can outweigh the will of the voters. … Utahns can trust me to show my work, explain my votes, disclose conflicts and remember that public office belongs to the public.

Ivory: Did not respond.

Utahns told us affordability is their second-highest priority in this election. How would you help Utahns afford housing, groceries, gas and other day-to-day expenses?

Howells: Affordability means lowering the bills people actually pay. I would cut taxes on groceries, protect homeowners and seniors from property-tax spikes, expand housing supply people can actually afford, stop utilities from shifting major infrastructure costs onto families, reform prescription drug and hospital pricing, and expand transit so families spend less on gas and car ownership. Utah’s economy should work for the people who live here.

Ivory: Did not respond.

Water resources were also a top concern for voters. What policies would you support as Utah looks to balance growth with preservation of the Great Salt Lake and the Colorado River?

Howells: Water has to become a “hard limit” in how Utah plans growth. We must protect the Great Salt Lake and our Colorado River share, tie major development to proven water availability and make large industrial users pay the true cost of what they consume. Agriculture must adapt through efficient irrigation, smarter crops and water leasing that keeps farms viable with less water. I’m not anti-farmer. Utah agriculture must remain strong and play a key role in Utah’s 22nd century future.

Ivory: Did not respond.

What is another topic you care about and want to address if elected to public office?

Howells: Privacy is a constitutional issue and Utah has let surveillance technology outrun the law. Flock cameras (and the other brands) can help recover a stolen car or find a missing child, but that is very different from building a searchable history of where everyone goes. I want to put Flock back in the box with clear constitutional guardrails, local ownership of data, short retention limits, warrants for historical searches, audit logs and strict limits on sharing.

Ivory: Did not respond.

How will you vote on Constitutional Amendment A? If passed, the amendment will stop the practice of publishing the full text of amendments and ballot questions by lawmakers in a newspaper for 60 days ahead of an election and instead require that text to be published on two state websites.

Howells: Against.

Ivory: Did not respond.

Q6. How will you vote on Constitutional Amendment B? If passed, citizen-proposed laws that increase taxes would need to be approved by 60% of voters, instead of a simple majority.

Howells: Against.

Ivory: Did not respond.

Q7. What’s your favorite book and why?

Howells: “The Art of War.” I studied it while serving in the military and what stayed with me most was not warfare, but strategy, patience and understanding people and circumstances — and knowing that the best fight is often the one you never have to fight.

Ivory: Did not respond.