SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 24, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Salt Lake City Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall announced Sunday that she plans to run for mayor of Salt Lake City.
Mendenhall– who has six years of council experience serving the city’s Ballpark, Central City, Central 9th, East Liberty Park, Liberty Wells and Wasatch Hollow communities — announced her intention to run on Facebook Sunday morning.
“I’m excited to announce that I am running for mayor of Salt Lake City,” the post said. “Support the positive vision, relevant experience and fresh energy of my candidacy by sharing the message. Official campaign launch and event to follow — stay tuned!”
Mendenhall was re-elected to her second term serving District Five in 2017. During her tenure on the City Council, she served as the Council Chair in 2018.
Her bio page on the SLC.gov website said Mendenhall serves as a member of the Utah Quality Growth Commission and the Utah League of Cities and Towns Board of Directors, and as Chair of the Utah Air Quality Board.
“Erin has a decade of experience working in advocacy, education policy and legislation,” the bio said. “She previously worked at Breathe Utah, a local air-quality non-profit, where she collaborated with policymakers, city and state agencies, schools, and community members to improve air quality along the Wasatch Front.”
Mendenhall is a graduate of the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s in Gender Studies. She is also working toward completing a Professional Master of Science and Technology at the University of Utah.
Her bio lists her passions as: “Improving local solutions to homelessness and human trafficking, geographic equity in affordable housing, neighborhood quality of life and State Street.”
Current Salt Lake City mayor Jackie Biskupski ended her campaign for a second term as mayor Monday, saying in a statement her and her wife Betty are facing a “serious and complex family situation.”
Other contenders for the position include former state Sen. Jim Dabakis, state Sen. Luz Escamilla, two-term former city council member Stan Penfold, former executive director of the Pioneer Park Coalition David Garbett, former Downtown Community Council Chairman Christian Harrison and businessman David Ibarra.
