Note to readers • This story is made possible through a partnership between The Salt Lake Tribune and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

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.

Three candidates are in the race to replace longtime-senator Jerry Stevenson, a Republican who is retiring after representing House District 6 since 2010.

Democratic candidate Jared Neal is a risk manager at a financial tech company, according to his campaign website.

Forward Party challenger Josh Smith is a software engineer, according his candidate website.

Tamara “Tami” Tran, a Republican, has served as the Kaysville mayor since 2022 and founded a defense contracting company.

The district includes cities on the west side of Davis County, like Kaysville, Syracuse and Clearfield, along with a large swath of the Great Salt Lake, including Antelope Island and a portion of the drying Farmington Bay.

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?

Neal: Utahns list corruption as a top concern because they see it with their own eyes. For years, state politics has been defined by closed-door dealmaking, lawmakers overriding citizen ballot initiatives, and the kind of entitlement that only happens when one party goes unchecked. Voters can trust me because I answer to everyday families, not political insiders or special interests. I am beholden to the people of Davis County, not special interest PACs or legislative power brokers.

Smith: It’s no surprise that Utahns are worried about corruption with the last two attorneys general facing corruption charges, the unelected MIDA board, the weakening of public records laws and the restructuring of the courts after unfavorable rulings. I’ll fight to restore what’s been taken — repealing secrecy laws, reinstating independent records oversight and ending conflicts of interest in unelected boards.

(Note to readers • Former Attorneys General John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff faced corruption-related charges, but neither were convicted. Prosecutors dropped the charges against Shurtleff in 2016, and a jury acquitted Swallow the following year.)

Tran: Did not answer.

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?

Neal: Families aren’t struggling over small splurges — they’re crushed by the Big Three: housing, healthcare and childcare. The state can’t set gas or grocery prices, but it can fix policies driving up these essentials. We must expand the housing supply by cutting red tape on starter homes, treat childcare as vital infrastructure to boost local providers and rein in healthcare costs with real price transparency. Relieving this pressure gives Utahns the breathing room to afford everyday life.

Smith: Our current inflation issues are caused by the war in Iran and global trade wars. Here in Utah, the priority must be keeping the state affordable by expanding zoning to allow more rental units, mixed-use buildings, accessory dwelling and portable mortgages that let homeowners carry their current rate to a new home. We need to expand FrontRunner to run every 15 minutes and on Sundays so that there are more viable alternatives to driving.

Tran: Did not answer.

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?

Neal: My district is right on the Great Salt Lake, and as a homeowner with children I am worried, like many in my district, about the possible health issues and, frankly, economic issues that come from the Great Salt Lake drying up. We need to price water accordingly and remove property tax from the equation. It’s well known that by using property tax to help fund water districts, we’re discouraging water conservation and having homeowners subsidize water for heavier users.

Smith: With 56% of the lake exposed and blowing toxic dust, we need to restore the lake to a healthy level of 4,200 feet. All water use and restoration progress must be publicly tracked and reported. We must reduce water use, starting with the biggest consumers. The state should invest in water-saving technology and ensure that half of all savings are returned to the lake, buy back water rights to put into the lake, and require new construction to use less water than the land currently does.

Tran: Did not answer.

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

Neal: Utah already ranks near the bottom nationally in per-pupil funding, yet millions in public tax dollars are being siphoned into private school vouchers with zero public accountability. Public funds belong in public schools that educate over 90% of our kids. Draining these resources crowds classrooms, hurts teacher retention and kneecaps our state’s economic future. I will fight to protect public education funding and ensure taxpayer dollars stay accountable to our community.

Smith: You should control your own data, devices and movements. Surveillance tools like Flock cameras must require probable cause and a warrant. Laws that ban VPNs or demand driver’s license scans to access the internet expose Utahns without meaningfully protecting them. The same principle applies to your devices and vehicles. Ownership should mean the right to repair and modify, not forced data sharing or manufactured dependency.

Tran: Did not answer.

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.

Neal: For.

Smith: Against.

Tran: Did not answer.

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.

Neal: Against.

Smith: Against.

Tran: Did not answer.

What’s your favorite book and why?

Neal: I am a voracious reader and read between 35-45 books a year, so it is hard to pick a favorite. Of what I read this year, “Continental Reckoning ” by Elliot West and Willa Cather’s “Death Comes for the Archbishop” were both great books about the West.

Smith: The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I love a relaxing fantasy where I can explore new cultures, ideas and problems. Sanderson builds brilliant magic systems and makes you feel his characters’ trials right alongside them.

Tran: Did not answer.