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SALT LAKE CITY — With less than 10 days until Election Day, a supermajority of the Salt Lake City Council endorsed Mayor Ralph Becker for re-election Thursday, but a new poll released the same afternoon showed challenger Jackie Biskupski leading the race.
Biskupski was showing a lead with 49 percent of likely voters registering support compared to Becker's 45 percent of respondents, with 5 percent undecided, according to the UtahPolicy.com survey conducted Monday-Wednesday by Dan Jones & Associates. The survey of 330 likely Salt Lake City voters has a nearly 5.4 percent margin of error.
"This is still a neck-and-neck race," said Becker's campaign spokesman Matt Lyon, adding that the mayor is confident he's gaining momentum among voters.
"I ask voters for one thing: Look at who can do the best job of leading the city for the next four years, and let me finish the job I've started," Becker said.
Biskupski says the poll confirms what her campaign's internal data reflects: a growing advantage over Becker.
"Salt Lake City voters are ready for new ideas, new energy and a mayor who listens," she said in an email Thursday. "Regardless of what the polling shows, I will continue to work hard for every vote until the polls close on Election Day."
Less than an hour before the new poll was released, five of the seven City Council members publicly endorsed Becker's re-election for a rare third term. Also present were Salt Lake County Council Chairman Richard Snelgrove and several mayors, including Provo Mayor John Curtis and Bluffdale Mayor Derk Timothy.
"Here we stand, the supermajority of the City Council, united in support for re-election of our mayor," Rogers said, flanked by Kyle LaMalfa, Lisa Adams, Stan Penfold and Erin Mendenhall on the steps of the Salt Lake City-County Building. "It's this characteristic that, in my opinion, is (Becker's) greatest strength: his ability to bring all parties to the table and come up with solutions that work."
Councilmen Charlie Luke and Luke Garrott did not attend. Garrott, who did not qualify through the primary election in his own bid for mayor, has not announced endorsement of either Becker or Biskupski and did not return requests for comment Thursday.
Luke, running for re-election in District 6 against Tracey Harty, said he has chosen not to endorse a candidate this year, having "great respect for both of them."
In response to Becker's City Council endorsement, Biskupski's campaign manager, Lindsay Barenz, pointed to Biskupski's own list of endorsements, which includes Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder, Salt Lake County Councilmen Sam Granato and Arlyn Bradshaw, and South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood.
"My leadership style has always been to bring people into my circle so we can work together," Biskupski said. "I look forward to working with all members of the council after the election."
Becker said he was "humbled" by the council's support, as well as endorsements from elected officials "up and down the Wasatch Front."
"Working day in and day out with (council members), they know me," the mayor said. "They know how well I listen and … how we work together to get things done. Having their support is a reflection of what I have done and will do as mayor of Salt Lake City."
As of Thursday, about 23 percent of Salt Lake voters had already mailed in their ballots, according to Salt Lake County Elections Director Rozan Mitchell.
