ST. GEORGE — Utah's gubernatorial candidates during a visit here Wednesday voiced support for a host of road and water projects in southern Utah and vowed to prosecute crimes associated with polygamous groups in the area.

"Since the last time I was here one month ago, you've already added 1,000 more people to Washington County," Democratic candidate Scott Matheson Jr. told an overflow crowd at a meeting of the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce. "This is emblematic of the problems we're facing in Utah."

Republican contender Jon Huntsman Jr. said Washington County is Utah's "ground zero" in terms of population growth and its accompanying challenges.

"With the exception of our youth, there is nothing more important than water; it's our lifeblood," Huntsman said, adding he would push to get the proposed $300 million Lake Powell pipeline project off the ground within the next 10 years.

When asked if they would "put a stop to the illegal acts" such as child abuse and welfare fraud linked the past several months to nearby polygamous communities, Huntsman said, "We're a rule of law society. I happen to think if people are breaking the law, they should be prosecuted. I will use the tools available to me as governor and go after them. I don't believe we should be making exceptions for anyone."

Calling the question timely and appropriate, Matheson said, "It's something that the governor, attorney general and everyone with a public responsibility has to take as seriously as we can."

Each candidate answered five questions posed by the chamber, with another five questions added by people in the audience.

Both candidates said they support developing a more aggressive drought and water management plan, and that they would seek options to keep more of Utah's water where it belongs — in the state.

"We need to increase the capacity of our existing reservoirs," Matheson said. "And we need to protect our allocation of Colorado River water by exploring the idea of temporarily leasing it to other states."

Huntsman said he favors the idea of tuition vouchers, while Matheson said the concept "takes us in the wrong direction."

The proposed St. George replacement airport is critical to the region and the state, both men said, as are plans to construct a new highway that loops around the southern end of the city.

They also said Utah should be doing a better job of promoting itself to the world.

"We need a definitive state brand," said Matheson. "We should be capitalizing on what we achieved in the Olympics and beyond."

Huntsman said he believes Utah "missed the boat."

"Utah needs to break out and spend $15 million on name branding," he said. "I believe we can get 5 million more tourists who will pump $1.4 billion into Utah's economy."

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