Meet the candidate: Rachelle Morris, running for Salt Lake County Council

As Election Day nears, KSL NewsRadio is interviewing candidates to get their stance on today’s issues. Keep an eye on our election coverage as we continue to speak to the 2024 General Election candidates.

SALT LAKE CITY — Rachelle Morris is a Republican running for Salt Lake County Council. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Information Systems and has worked as an entrepreneur and investor at Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan. 

According to her campaign website, she is the co-founder and partner at a Utah venture fund.

Morris spoke with KSL At Night hosts Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner on Oct. 14. A partial transcript, and the full podcast are below.

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This interview has been modified for brevity and clarity.

HOST TAYLOR MORGAN: What are you hearing from voters as you’re campaigning? What are the issues that voters are talking to you about?

RACHELLE MORRIS: I was just knocking doors in Sandy on Saturday. What voters brought up in Sandy mirrors what voters were bringing up to me in Taylorsville, which is housing affordability, cost of living. Everyone is feeling that pinch on their wallets.

And then public safety.

As a Salt Lake City resident, [I’ve] been very focused on what’s going on with homelessness and public safety in Salt Lake City. But as I’ve been spending time in the suburbs of Salt Lake County, the same issue comes up.

…When I was in Taylorsville last week, residents who live right by Taylorsville Elementary were bringing up unsheltered neighbors [who] are now camping out at the Smiths grocery store. That’s just right outside the neighborhood. And they’re saying, ‘Hey, this wasn’t here 18 months ago.’

Candidate Rachelle Morris on $507 million public safety bond

HOST ADAM GARDINER: The Salt Lake County Council placed a $507 million public safety bond on the ballot. That’s a lot of money. And so I’d love to know what’s in the bond. What’s your position on it?

MORRIS: … In Salt Lake County, we have not added a single jail bed in 23 years. … Meanwhile, our population has grown by 300,000 people. So our jail is more or less operating at full capacity.

That is putting a stress on our entire criminal justice system. Then our Taylorsville neighbors are feeling it inside of their community. Because we’ve got a jail that’s totally full.

My position? I’m voting for the bond.

Also, I come with financial rigor to make sure that this bond is managed as conservatively as we can, that we’re not overraising money and paying interest on that. Because taxpayers will be footing that bill.

Then, also, put accountability frameworks around this Justice and Accountability Center. … Make sure that those who go through the program do become drug-free, crime-free and gainfully employed after their time in the program.

GARDINER: But as you talk about financial responsibility … how do you reconcile, in voters’ minds, that this financial discipline, the financial responsibility with the real needs in Salt Lake County, including the need for this bond?

MORRIS: That’s one reason I’ve come out against the [Little Cottonwood Canyon] gondola, which would be a taxpayer-funded project, right?

We have to prioritize the most essential programs and services and functions of the county government. And then let’s make sure that if we are asking taxpayers to help foot the bill that we are prioritizing the most essential things.

Please listen to the podcast below for the entire interview.

Related:

• Meet the candidate: Erin Rider, running for Salt Lake County Mayor
• Meet the candidate: Glenn Wright running to represent Utah’s 3rd Congressional District
• Meet the candidate: Michelle Quist, running for Utah Attorney General

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