Candidates: Iva Williams and Kris Nicholl
The debate over the proposed Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola continues to shape Sandy’s local elections. In the Friends of Little Cottonwood Canyon survey, candidates Iva Williams and Kris Nicholl both voiced opposition to the billion-dollar project, though each emphasized different reasons and priorities.
Williams points to the gondola’s limited appeal to local skiers and its high cost to taxpayers, ultimately concluding that the project won’t reduce canyon traffic. Nicholl agrees the gondola is not the right solution, instead backing the phased approach of enhanced bus service, tolling, and parking restrictions as more practical alternatives. While both candidates initially marked uncertainty on questions about future infrastructure projects, their comments underscore a shared concern for protecting taxpayers while focusing on common-sense canyon transportation solutions.
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Question 1: Do you support building the proposed 8-mile long gondola in LCC (e.g., yes, no, depends)? Why or why not?
- Iva Williams: “No, I don’t think the local skiers will use it (I ski frequently and can’t see myself riding it) and I don’t believe it will curb traffic.”
- Kris Nicholl: “No, I do not. I prefer the phases approach laid out in in phase one. More specifically, the common-sense solutions like increased bus service, tolling and heavy parking restrictions.”
Question 2: Utah taxpayers, via sales taxes across the state, are paying into a fund that would fund UDOT’s gondola in LCC. At an estimated funding cost of $1.4 Bn this amounts to roughly $1200 per household. Do you think the gondola should be fully or partially paid
- Iva Williams: “No. I don’t believe people who will never see any benefit should pay.”
- Kris Nicholl: “No taxpayer funding for the gondola. Taxpayers should help foot the bill for expanded bus service and tolling.”
Question 3: Sandy City Council has consistently attempted to be good stewards with City taxes. Sandy residents overwhelmingly oppose the gondola and use of their tax money to fund it. If elected, will you represent your constituents’ preferences for better bus service?
- Iva Williams: “Other/Maybe/Unsure”
- Kris Nicholl: “Other/Maybe/Unsure”
Question 4: If elected, will you actively oppose State or County-imposed infrastructure projects that increase the tax burden on Sandy City residents and will you support City Council resolution that defend residents from such overreach?
- Iva Williams: “Other/Maybe/Unsure”
- Kris Nicholl: “Other/Maybe/Unsure”
Question 5: If you would like to add your own comments, questions or feedback for clarification or conciseness please do so.
- Iva Williams: “When I began my run I didn’t really have a strong opinion about the gondola. As I learned how much it will cost every household in Utah and how strongly the residents of Sandy feel I can say that I am opposed to it. I selected “maybe/unsure” on the final two questions because I don’t feel I could say I would definitely oppose state infrastructure projects without knowing first what they were and the details of the projects.”
- Kris Nicholl: (For question 3) “I will represent my constituents’ preferences for better/expanded bus service. I feel phase one’s focus on better/expanded bus service is of the utmost importance. (For question 4) This is not an easy question to answer. The money in the Transportation Investment fund is where some of the funding could come from. I do not know how the money is structured in that fund. If allowed and without risking funding for phase one I would work with Sandys State Representatives to see how the money could be used to strategically fund phase one. Since this question is not specific to the Canyon Transportation project I would be inclined to say no. Only because Sandy has infrastructure needs that are nowhere near the Cottonwood Canyons. If any infrastructure projects that are specific to canyon transportation are proposed I would work with Salt Lake County and Sandy’s State representatives to make sure any money for infrastructure projects in the canyon go to phase one.“
