The future of downtown Heber City lies in the hands of voters and the candidates they choose to represent them.
The Heber Leadership Academy hosted a Meet the Candidates debate Thursday afternoon in the Heber City Council Chambers, dividing 10 candidates into two groups and asking them seven questions.
Though candidates were advised to keep the conversation civil and subsequently left their metaphorical brass knuckles and switchblades at home, the discussion allowed for Heber City voters to take note of what some candidates offer that others may not and who is most aligned with their views on local issues.
Eleven candidates are running for three council seats in a ranked-choice election. Paul Royal III was the lone candidate who was not able to participate in the debate.
The seven questions asked the candidates about their reasons to run, how they intend to represent their constituents, their stance on the long-term city plan Envision Heber 2050, their stance on the Utah Department of Transpiration’s western bypass to get traffic off of Main Street, the city’s growth, local housing affordability — or unaffordability — and Proposition 9, which would impose a small sales’ tax to help fund Wasatch County Fire and EMS services.
While each of the candidates unsurprisingly stated their passion for Heber City and its people as reasons for running, the more nuanced questions showed several areas where the individuals differ.
One of the issues that saw a wide variety of answers was the candidates’ views on the future of the center of Heber City as it has been planned to develop over the next 27 years.
While most candidates voiced strong support for Heber City’s evolutionary plan that aims to have less traffic on Main Street and more downtown accessibility to walking pedestrians, a few raised concerns.
Nick Lopez, for example, applauded city officials for creating the plan, but said he finds it exclusionary of businesses on the north and south parts of Main Street.
“I do firmly believe there is more to Heber City than four blocks of Main Street,” he said. “There are a ton of businesses that bring tax dollars into the city outside of that four-block area.”
Main Street, he said, runs from 1200 South to 600 North, “and all of those buildings should be included.”
Jami Hewlett also found drawbacks in the plan and worried it promotes more three-story buildings and higher density in Heber City, something she doesn’t want.
“I think that Main Street has grown too big to make it walkable,” she said. “I feel like we need a vibrant downtown. I don’t know if Main Street is that exact spot for it.”
Other candidates who lauded the plan with less reservation commented on the city’s dying core, and how a revitalization could improve the experience of visitors.
“We’re going to continue to be the doormat to Park City, as some people say, if we don’t have a reason for people to stop here and spend their money,” Tori Boughton said. “It is vital to the economy of Heber that our downtown is walkable, shopable and there’s a place to park.”
Casey Powers fell somewhere in the middle of supportive and speculative, but said he is ready to get behind the plan so long as it is implemented appropriately.
“I agree 100% that a healthy community starts with a healthy downtown,” he said, though he added that the plan must be updated and measured often. “What does Envision Heber City Downtown 2025 look like? What does Envision Heber City 2030 look like? Are we doing enough to adjust course with these economic changes that we face?”
A member of the leadership academy also reminded people of the voting process.
Heber City residents who wish to vote by mail must send their ballots postmarked no later than Nov. 20. There is also a ballot drop box in the parking lot of the Wasatch County Building for voters who prefer to forgo the U.S. postal process and their ballots in directly.
Those who haven’t received a ballot in the mail can register by Nov. 10, or they can register in person on election day, Nov. 21, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the County Clerk’s Office.