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.

Rep. Bridger Bolinder, the majority assistant whip in the Utah Legislature, is not running to represent a broad swath of western Utah for a third term this year.

Instead, four candidates are vying to represent Utah House District 29, which includes Tooele, Juab and Millard Counties.

Those candidates include Tynley Bean, member of the Forward Party; Sheldon Birch, a Republican; Jonathan Garrard, with the Constitution Party; and Sara Snow, a Democrat.

Election day is on Nov. 3. If not voting in person, voters must drop ballots in a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day or return by mail in time so it is in the clerk’s possession by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The Salt Lake Tribune posed the following questions to each of the candidates. 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.

Garrard and Snow did not respond to requests to fill out the questionnaire.

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?

Bean: It’s a trust gap: when big decisions move fast, with little transparency, it feels like corruption.

I’m not a career politician; I don’t have donors to protect. My accountability is to my district. I’d advocate for genuine public comment before the vote, restoring tax break reporting that lets people see what these incentives actually cost, and requiring impact studies before a project is approved. I’ll explain my reasoning and show my work. That’s the standard I want for District 29.

Birch: Power corrupts. It seems evidence of this has been prominent lately. Many feel underrepresented by elected leaders. I vow not to make decisions on topics where I am not an expert without first consulting those who are. I promise to place the needs of my district above my own interests.

Garrard: Did not answer.

Snow: 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?

Bean: Utah is more than 40,000 homes short and prices nearly doubled since 2018, because regulation and fees add over a quarter of the cost of a new home. I’d push for faster, one-checklist permitting, expand by-right ADUs and preserve affordable units instead of losing them. For everyday costs, I’d cut the state fees and rules that quietly inflate prices: no new taxes, no new agency, just results.

Birch: As a pharmacist at a small pharmacy, I have seen the effects of our economy on my patients. I have watched people choose between their medication and groceries, gas or school fees. I speak to people on a daily basis about the types of challenges they are facing. I believe healthcare affordability is one of the most pressing issues we must tackle. I will fight to break up big medicine, to protect a patient’s right to choose where they get their healthcare, and to reduce prescription drug costs.

Garrard: Did not answer.

Snow: 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?

Bean: I’d launch a public water dashboard with a color-coded alert system, green through red, tied to real elevation thresholds so Utahns see at a glance where things stand. For the Great Salt Lake, that means lake elevation and inflows. For the Colorado River, it means Lake Powell levels and our ag water leasing progress. Clear data, updated regularly, drives real accountability, not surprises. I’d also scale up ag water leasing programs with federal funding.

Birch: I support efforts to better quantify the effects of data centers and other large developments on water usage and the Great Salt Lake. I support the Colorado River Abundance Act. I support HB410. We should reconsider “use it or lose it” water policy. I believe we could learn a lot about water stewardship by listening to our farmers.

Garrard: Did not answer.

Snow: Did not answer.

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

Bean: I’ll champion impact audits and a public tracking dashboard for any program or corporate tax break over $4 million. Every bill passes with big promises, but taxpayers rarely see if they deliver. Our dashboard will display the bill, fiscal note, stated goals and real-time progress. If an initiative fails to meet benchmarks within three to five years, funding automatically sunsets or clawbacks are triggered. It’s common-sense fiscal accountability: no more blank checks.

Birch: I believe lawmakers can do better at practicing decorum. I vow to listen before making decisions. I promise to address conflict without contention. All persons deserve respect regardless of their views on a subject. Most times the best solutions are developed through collaboration and compromise.

Garrard: Did not answer.

Snow: 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.

Bean: Declined to answer.

Birch: Against.

Garrard: Did not answer.

Snow: 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.

Bean: Declined to answer.

Birch: Against.

Garrard: Did not answer.

Snow: Did not answer.

What’s your favorite book and why?

Bean: I love any book that changes me and how I see the world. “The Screwtape Letters” is an excellent example. Its sharp wit exposed the petty traps and quiet habits of my daily life, permanently reshaping how I view my choices, time and empathy.

Birch: My favorite book is “Outliers” by Malcom Gladwell. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and I am fascinated by what “makes people tick.” This book combines the two topics into an analysis of what makes people stand out from their peers.

Garrard: Did not answer.

Snow: Did not answer.