Candidates in District 5 Salt Lake City Council race debate the issues

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Tonight is the next debate for the Salt Lake City Council election, this time for District 5, which serves the Ballpark, Central Ninth, East Liberty Park, and Liberty Wells neighborhoods.

Like the debate for District 3 last week, this debate is being hosted by

Solutions Utah and The Other Side Academy. The debate will be at Salt Lake Community College, in the Multipurpose Room at 6:30 p.m. ABC4’s own chief political correspondent and host of Inside Utah Politics Lindsay Aerts will moderate the debate, and it will be livestreamed on abc4.com, the ABC4 Utah Facebook page, and the News4Utah+ streaming app.

There are three candidates vying for the District 5 seat: Erika Carlsen, Vance Hansen, and Amy Hawkins. Darin Mano is currently the district 5 city council member, but he is not running for re-election.

The debate format will follow Utah Debate Commission and League of Women Voters guidelines. Each candidate will give opening and closing statements, and the rest of the debate is divided into two rounds. Questions will be asked to all the candidates, and they will also have time to rebut or clarify answers.

Solutions Utah (previously known as the Pioneer Park Coalition) has sponsored debates for Salt Lake City elections for the past 10 years.

About the candidates

Erika Carlsen describes herself on her campaign website as a “dedicated leader, bridge-builder, and lifelong advocate for community-driven change.” She is a native Utahn, and she has a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. She serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including Spy Hop and the Ballpark Action Team, and she is a co-founder of the Ballpark Action Team.

Carlsen’s website says that she values inclusion, connection, and vibrant community spaces. She is also focused on keeping neighborhoods affordable and supporting small businesses. You can learn more about her stance on the issues here.

Amy Hawkins describes herself on her campaign website as “a neighbor, educator, and community leader.” She has served on the Ballpark Community Council since 2015 and as the chair since 2018. According to her campaign website, she has lived in Salt Lake City since 2011, and moved to the Ballpark neighborhood in 2014.

Hawkins’ website says that she values community safety, green spaces, and advocating for homeless services. You can read more about her stances on the issues here.

Vance Hansen does not appear to have a campaign website. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that he is a resident of Liberty Wells and works as a security guard.