Both political sides of the mask issue

As members of boards or districts, you have likely dealt with concerns or changes in policy concerning the pandemic response in Utah. As with other states in the union, it’s been a varied experience for everyone. That is especially true when it comes to mandates for wearing face coverings.

Federal, state and city representatives have tried to reach a consensus — and sometimes failed — when it comes to requirements for businesses and residents. It can create some political turmoil to reach that agreement, with sides clearly drawn.

To stay informed on different viewpoints, as well as to learn where you may stand on the issues and their many nuances, we’re sharing a recent story from Deseret News that features one leader from the political left and one from the right.

They discuss mask mandates in the state and where they think they may be headed from their own perspectives and views. As it happens, they agree more than they disagree.

Views from the left

Anthony Pignanelli, a former Democrat state senator from Utah, said the variants of COVID-19 mean that the issues it creates will continue to be a part of the political landscape.

“These include increased battles between officials pushing or objecting to mandates for masking and “vaxxing,’ “Pignanelli writes. “Extremists in both parties will succumb to the temptation of COVID-19 issue litmus tests for candidates, influencing delegate selection in the early months of 2022. Thus, the party conventions of next year could be referenda on government responses, mandates, conspiracies, and anything else related to the virus.”

With the recent efforts in the past legislature to strengthen emergency relationships between state and local groups, Pignanelli believes there won’t be any weigh-ins from legislators on masks.

Views from the right

LaVarr Webb, a Republican political consultant, represents that side of the fence for the Deseret story. He personally believes that vaccinations and masks are critical to stemming the tide of the pandemic, but doesn’t agree that masking should be mandated.

“Elected leaders appropriately look more broadly than health concerns,” Webb explains. “They take into account the feelings of constituents and the temperature of the issue. The reality is that we’re at a point in the pandemic, despite the upsurge, where many citizens have had it with masks and limitations.”

Webb also believes, as does his left counterpart in this story, that the legislature will be looking at local government’s roles with mandates, but that they won’t weigh in en masse.

Stemming the tide

Both men agree on how to continue progress against the pandemic: vaccinations for everyone.

“Vaccinations are safe and effective,” Webb writes. “If everyone (or a high percentage) gets vaccinated the other issues go away.”

Representing the view of the left, Pignanelli writes: “There are a thousand different ways to apply basic rules of society in response to the pandemic (wearing masks, evaluating vaccinations, etc.).”

When it comes to finding out the latest for any type of regulation or law that may affect your district, we can be there to help navigate. To find out more about how we can help you, go to our website.