Two Republicans are hoping to fill a South Salt Lake Valley seat in the Utah House of Representatives.

Nik Anderson owns and operates event venues along the Wasatch Front. His opponent, Jake Hunsaker, is a human resources executive at Qualtrics. In 2022, he challenged Rep. Burgess Owens for his 4th Congressional District position in the U.S. House of Representatives.

They’re competing for Republican suburbanites’ votes in a primary election on June 23. The seat, House District 48, covers parts of South Jordan, Herriman and Riverton.

Rep. Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman, currently holds the position, but he opted to challenge Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, in this cycle.

The Republican primary winner will face Democrat Benyde Walker in the November general election.

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 both of the candidates. Their answers — listed in alphabetical order — may have been edited slightly for length, style or grammar. Anderson did not respond to multiple requests to fill out the survey.

A plurality of voters, more than 30%, said elected official corruption is the primary issue driving who they’ll vote for, with another nearly 14% of voters saying it is their second-highest issue. Why are so many Utah voters concerned about corruption in politics? How will you build trust with Utahns?

Nik Anderson: Did not answer.

Jake Hunsaker: I think people get frustrated when there’s a gap between what politicians say and how they vote. If a vote seems to contradict the principles someone campaigned on, trust starts to erode.

For me, transparency starts before the vote, not after. My votes should reflect the values I talk about on the campaign trail. If a vote is a surprise to the people I represent, something probably isn’t working.

I’ll stay accessible, explain my reasoning and be accountable for both the intent and impact of the legislation I support.

After corruption, more than 16% of Utah voters said everyday affordability — like the cost of housing, groceries, gas, etc — is the first thing on their minds as they vote this year. Another 15% said it is their second-highest issue. What will you do to help make life more affordable for Utahns?

Anderson: Did not answer.

Hunsaker: Affordability starts with housing, infrastructure and taxes. We need to lower the cost of housing — not just by building more, but also by clearing infrastructure bottlenecks and making sure roads, water, schools, et cetera are in place before growth stalls.

I also support greater transparency around tax increases, including unfunded state mandates that drive up local property taxes.

More broadly, government should focus on removing barriers that make it harder and more expensive to build, work and raise a family in Utah. Lower costs come from better policy, not bigger government.

Utah has experienced drought for much of the last two decades. The availability of water is the third-most-pressing issue for voters this year. What can elected officials do to ensure Utahns have enough water for the future?

Anderson: Did not answer.

Hunsaker: Utah has made important progress in recent years by investing in water conservation, secondary water metering, agricultural optimization and long-term water infrastructure. We need to continue building on those efforts.

I believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our natural resources and leave Utah in better condition for the next generation. Conservation, innovation and long-term planning can help ensure Utah has the water it needs for decades to come.

Should the state continue to pursue nuclear energy? What can be done to address Utah’s growing energy needs?

Anderson: Did not answer.

Hunsaker: Yes. As our population grows, we need an all-of-the-above approach that includes traditional energy sources, emerging renewable technologies, transmission upgrades and a stronger power grid.

I support free market solutions to expand Utah’s energy production, support local energy jobs and maintain reasonable environmental stewardship for our kids and grandkids. Reliable and affordable energy is essential for families, businesses and Utah’s future growth.

In 2018, voters narrowly passed the Better Boundaries initiative, creating an independent redistricting commission and prohibiting partisan gerrymandering. The Legislature’s attempts to significantly weaken the Better Boundaries initiative spawned years of litigation, culminating in a court adopting new congressional boundaries. Who should be responsible for drawing Utah’s political boundaries? Why?

Anderson: Did not answer.

Hunsaker: I don’t believe politicians should choose their voters, and I don’t believe judges should become self-appointed, unconstitutional mapmakers either. Both courses are wrong for Utah.

A majority of Utah voters approved the independent commission. The Legislature should have worked in good faith to produce maps that followed the spirit and letter of that majority vote. Instead, we ended up with years of conflict, unnecessary litigation and declining trust.

I’ll side with transparency, public trust and the will of “we the people” every time. Our leaders should earn our trust — not test it.

Is there an imbalance of power between the Legislature and the courts? If so, what should be done about it?

Anderson: Did not answer.

Hunsaker: Checks and balances are one of the reasons our system has endured, and an independent judiciary is critical to maintaining public trust.

That doesn’t mean judges should be beyond scrutiny. Transparency and accountability matter. But just like how sports teams don’t get to pick their own referees, lawmakers should be careful not to change the rules to impact ongoing political disputes or litigation involving themselves.

I’m supportive of reforms when they are needed, and they should be done transparently and in a way that strengthens confidence in our institutions.

What do you believe is the most pressing issue before voters this year? What can be done to address it?

Anderson: Did not answer.

Hunsaker: I think affordability is the biggest issue facing Utah families. Housing costs and rising property taxes are putting real pressure on household budgets.

We can lower the cost of housing by investing in infrastructure earlier and thoughtfully increasing housing supply.

We also need to pursue unfunded mandate reform. Too often, the state passes laws that create additional costs for cities, counties and school districts, and those costs show up for you and me on local property tax bills. Taxpayers in House District 48 deserve transparency and accountability before those costs are passed along.