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In what is largely considered the most purple district outside Salt Lake County, Democrat and former state Rep. Rosemary Lesser is campaigning to retake a seat in the Utah House of Representatives.

Democratic delegates selected Lesser to fill in for the late Rep. LaWanna Shurtliff in 2021, and she won reelection against Republican Jill Koford in 2022.

But in 2024, Koford ran again and defeated Lesser by less than 2 percentage points — around 300 votes. Koford is now leaving the House in an effort to replace longtime Sen. Ann Millner in the upper chamber.

Lesser, an Air Force veteran and retired OB-GYN, is competing against Republican Jim Alvey for the House District 10 seat in Weber County.

Alvey previously oversaw Intermountain Health’s public relations and marketing for hospitals in northern Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, and now owns a video production company. He did not respond to requests to complete The Salt Lake Tribune’s community-sourced survey.

Election Day is Nov. 3.

If returned through the postal service, mail ballots must be sent early enough to arrive at the county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Otherwise, they can be left at a drop box until polls close at 8 p.m.

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.

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?

Alvey: Did not answer.

Lesser: Government corruption betrays Utahns’ trust. This concern is fueled by reports of self-enrichment using insider knowledge. People lose faith when officials make binding decisions behind closed doors, as in the Military Installation Development Authority — or MIDA — agreement for the Stratos data center project. Throughout my career in the military and in medicine, I’ve held positions that earned trust. I will continue to earn that trust by keeping constituents informed with an honest record of legislative actions.

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?

Alvey: Did not answer.

Lesser: I propose expanding Utah’s First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Program to include all homes, not just new construction. I would eliminate the state sales tax on groceries. I would extend the state child tax credit to all qualifying Utahns. I propose increased funding for programs such as the Olene Walker Fund to support infrastructure for existing homes. I propose optimizing underused state land and buildings (such as closed schools) to create affordable housing.

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?

Alvey: Did not answer.

Lesser: Water supply is a limited resource, and every decision involving growth must make that the primary consideration. I will support every policy that ensures conserved water ultimately becomes measurable acre-feet going to the Great Salt Lake. This will require several policies: robust water leasing, permanent donation of available water rights and requiring measurable conservation by cities (such as limiting outdoor watering) and industry. Colorado River preservation requires cooperation by basin states.

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

Alvey: Did not answer.

Lesser: I care fervently about protecting the right of every registered voter to receive a ballot by mail. I oppose the 2025 change that will require voters to “opt in” to receive a mailed ballot, and I believe that policy should be reversed. For years, Utah voters have come to expect that their ballot will arrive in the mail. Changing that system risks creating unnecessary confusion and could result in eligible voters not receiving a ballot they expected to receive.

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.

Alvey: Did not answer.

Lesser: Against.

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.

Alvey: Did not answer.

Lesser: Against.

What’s your favorite book and why?

Alvey: Did not answer.

Lesser: My favorite book is Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light We Cannot See.” Listening to it, I experienced Marie-Laure’s world through sound rather than sight. I was captivated by Doerr’s beautiful story of two lives colliding amid war’s cruelty.