Welcome to the City Journals Voters Guide!

2025's General Election Day is on Nov. 4.   (See other important dates and SLCounty information in our Voting Information Overview page at the Valley Journals here.) 

In preparation, we surveyed our readers (like you!) to ask which local topics would determine important voting decisions for local races. We then asked your local candidates those reader-suggested questions. Candidates were asked to limit their answers to 200 words.These are their answers: 

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In Taylorsville, Bob Knudsen and Paul R. Schulte are running for the District 5 council seat.

 

Q: Do you believe current property tax revenue is being used effectively? How so? 

Bob Knudsen: I feel that the City of Taylorsville has been working to manage property taxes as best we can.  When reviewing our city budget, property tax revenues count for approximately 20% of the total tax revenues, the majority of the remainder coming from general sales tax remittance and other items, such as vehicle and franchise taxes.  These taxes go towards many necessary items, particularly our police and maintenance of our roads and infrastructure. 

Paul R. Schulte: Yes, I believe current property tax revenue is being used effectively, but we must remain vigilant to ensure every dollar is spent wisely. Taxpayers deserve confidence that their hard-earned money is going as far as possible. In my career, I’ve managed multimillion-dollar projects on time, and under budget. For example, as Executive Director of Auxiliary Services, I oversaw the construction of three elementary schools according to schedule and at a savings. I also directed a $12 million annual capital budget and built a reputation for finding cost savings and efficiencies. I will bring that same commitment to effective stewardship of public resources and accountability to Taylorsville City Council.

Q: Thinking about fiscal responsibility, what values should your local budget reflect? How do you plan to balance those values? 

Bob Knudsen: I feel that the city should be working to operate as efficiently as it can in every regard.  This means that we focus on the most critical needs, then if we have extra funding available through private donations or grants, we can work at extra items that would be nice to have.  The biggest operational category within our city budget is the police force, which we need in order to preserve our safety and security.  From there, we work to ensure that we can maintain our staff and all other items so we can keep smooth operations in order for our citizens.  We are always seeking ways in which we can be fiscally responsible with our budget, as illustrated through our recent move to combine our municipal justice court with that in West Jordan City to better serve our needs, preserve confidentiality for court cases, and to reduce overhead costs while also building in better coverage for times when either judge of the municipal justice courts is unable to fulfill their duties due to illness.  Actions, such as these can, hopefully, illustrate how we are working to be the best stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars.

Paul R. Schulte: Rising costs are affecting everyone in Taylorsville: from seniors on fixed incomes struggling to pay the bills, to young people trying to get their start. From groceries to housing, I think all of us can attest to feeling squeezed more with each year that passes. Our city budget should make sure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely while ensuring that even residents with limited incomes can still afford a good quality of life and pursue their goals here in Taylorsville. 

Q: Many residents reported concern for government oversight and transparency. What systems would you support to hold local officials accountable when transparency standards aren't met? 

Bob Knudsen: I have worked to be open and transparent with everything that I do within my capacity as an elected official.  If anyone has concerns, I would like to have them reach out so that I can work to see what problems exist and how we can resolve them. 

Paul R. Schulte: Across the country, people from every political perspective are losing trust in government. Even when local government operates ethically and efficiently, the headlines from Washington often cause residents to wonder whether their city leaders can be trusted too. That’s why, in Taylorsville, it’s our responsibility to go the extra mile in building confidence through transparency and accountability.  | When residents ask how their taxpayer dollars are being spent or whether their leaders are living up to their responsibilities, they deserve clear and accessible answers. I greatly admire Mayor Overson’s weekly “Mayor is In” forums, where anyone can sit down face-to-face with their mayor. That kind of open-door relationship is exactly the model I want to extend to every part of our city leadership. I would support expanding these sessions at least once a month to include the entire city council or at least once councilmember.   | I believe the city must continue to publish as much information as possible so residents have the tools they need to hold their government accountable, and revisit reforms like the campaign finance ordinance. Stronger disclosure requirements would foster greater trust and help ensure that our government always reflects the people it serves.

Q: What is your stance on local government cooperation with ICE? 

Bob Knudsen: I feel that our local law enforcement officers are here to protect the City of Taylorsville, its residents, and to help maintain our overall safety.  If there is an individual that has an actionable warrant out for their arrest due to crimes committed, out officers should be able to help with an arrest for crimes committed within the city.  Our officers are busy enough maintaining order within the city for our needs that I feel we do not have the bandwidth to “deputize” our officers to work on matters that are being undertaken by ICE.

Paul R. Schulte: I do not support any cooperation between Taylorsville’s local law enforcement and ICE, and I would never vote for such an agreement. Our police officers are best equipped to keep our community safe when they can focus on local issues and build trust with the residents they serve. Asking them to enforce federal immigration laws undermines that trust and distracts from their real mission: protecting Taylorsville families and neighborhoods.  | Immigration policy is a federal responsibility. At the local level, our job is to ensure public safety and strengthen community relationships. Partnering with ICE does the opposite: it divides communities and creates fear. I believe Taylorsville should continue supporting our police officers with the resources they need to do their jobs well, while respecting and valuing every neighbor who calls this city home.

Q: How do you plan to serve community needs?

Bob Knudsen: For my current term of 2022 to 2025, I have been working to address every item that comes in to my email, every phone call, text, or other interaction with residents.  I have been regularly attending every meeting of our volunteer citizen committees for which I am city council liaison, so that our citizens have a direct voice with the legislative body of the city.  I have been attending every meeting of our Planning Commission that I am able to be at in order to be more familiar with the planning matters that our city is working towards, even if they do not directly require interaction of the city council.  I plan to continue in this same manner into the next term of service on the city council, as long as the citizens of Taylorsville wish to retain me on the City Council.  All citizens are free to call or text me on my cell phone, 801-505-8471, or email me at my city email.

Paul R. Schulte: I am committed to building a Taylorsville rooted in opportunity, safety, fairness, and respect for all residents. That’s the vision I will bring to the City Council.  | Taylorsville is changing, and we need leadership that recognizes and listens to every part of our community, including groups that haven’t always had a voice in local government. I will maintain an open-door policy so residents can share their concerns directly, knowing that community needs evolve and often differ by neighborhood and background. My goal is to make sure every resident feels heard and represented in the decisions that shape our city.

Q: One main succinct reason/goal for why you are running for this election: 

Bob Knudsen: I love serving my neighbors and all those within Taylorsville City.

Paul R. Schulte: While the federal government dominates the news cycle, the decisions that our local leaders make directly affect our lives. I am committed to finding cost-effective solutions for the issues that Taylorsville residents face, and have proven leadership and life experience: 

Q: Background (residents have asked: What is your relevant educational/job experience? What previous government positions or offices have you held? How long have you been on the council?):

Bob Knudsen: I was born in 1985, living in Taylorsville for all my 40-year life.  I have been married for 14 years, and I have five children (four boys and one girl), whose ages range from 13 years old to 8 months old.  I have served my neighbors and city in various capacities, including my local neighborhood watch, as well as volunteering to assist with our annual Taylorsville Dayzz celebration.  I have worked for the University of Utah for 19 years, and I am currently working as an Accounting Supervisor, managing all accounting/finance duties within the department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, as well as its multi-million-dollar budget and compliance with State and Federal regulations.  I was elected to my current position on the City Council in 2021, putting me at the end of the first term of public service.  I feel uniquely qualified to continue serving on the council as I have many members of my extended family and friends who are in the bracket of senior citizens in retirement, and I can also represent young families, as I have had two children born while I have been serving on the City Council.

Paul R. Schulte: Deep Roots in Taylorsville – My wife Jeanine and I have called Taylorsville home for 21 years. Together, we've raised seven children and now enjoy six grandchildren.  | A Voice for the Voiceless – Taylorsville is not the same community it was 20 years ago. I will speak up for those whose concerns too often go unheard—from seniors on fixed incomes to young families striving for stability—and ensure city decisions reflect the needs of all residents.  | Decades of Public Service – I am a career-long educator, including as a special education teacher, football and wrestling coach, high school principal, and executive director, and I'm currently serving as Principal of the Utah Military Academy charter school.

Q: How can residents stay informed about your campaign? 

Bob Knudsen: Residents may check my website, https://votebobknudsen.com/, for more details on the campaign, and my Facebook Page, “@Bob Knudsen–Taylorsville City Council”.  Anyone can also email me at [email protected] or call/text me at 801-505-8471.

Paul R. Schulte: Website:  vote4schulte.com

Optional – Salt Lake County residents reported a handful of additional topics of concerns and questions. If you have some extra time, please feel free to answer any of the following questions you’d like to respond to. Responses to questions in this section are not necessary. 

Q: What role do you believe local government should play in protecting open space and natural areas within your community?  Residents specifically asked: What actions will you take to help conserve the Great Salt Lake? 

Bob Knudsen: Land use within a city is directed by the municipal government.  This means that property can be purchased and used by the owner for what they would like, as long as it fits within the scope of a city’s master plan.  If an owner wants to convert open space to another use, they can seek the approval of the city government to accomplish that.  However, this requires that the legislative body, comprised of citizens of the city who are representing all citizens feel comfortable with changing the use of open space.  Taylorsville City is committed to maintaining its current open space and ensuring that future developments allow for continued open space to exist, especially working to safeguard development around the Jordan river, whose flow has an effect on the Great Salt Lake.

Q: If elected, how will you begin managing high-density housing, short-term rentals, and property value protections in your community?   (Residents specifically asked: Do you support holding builders accountable to a higher standard (like expecting builders to make needed improvements to streets and sidewalks)?

Bob Knudsen: I plan to continue in the manner that has been handled previously with regards to high-density housing.  High-density requires a lot of care in order to ensure that it will work in the proposed area.  The latest higher-density project that was approved was done under a Site-Specific Development (SSD), which allowed for concessions to be made in order to allow for some more density in regards to townhomes to be built in exchange for the developer to make improvements to the surrounding area’s sidewalks, as well as enacting restrictions for the development so that only a certain number of housing units could be used as rental properties, as our vision is to have owner-occupied housing where possible (an example arose in West Jordan where a developer constructed housing units as allowed by their code, and all housing units were bought by out-of-state investors to use as rentals, thereby eliminating the owner-occupied option).  This framework should be followed for any and all future high-density housing proposals as this allows for the city to enforce higher standards from a developer than if they were to build according to allowed code and ensure that we maintain owner-occupancy.