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SALT LAKE CITY — Two more potential candidates jumped into Salt Lake City’s already crowded mayoral race over the weekend, increasing the total to nine people vying to replace outgoing mayor Jackie Biskupski in the 2019 election this November.
Salt Lake City councilwoman Erin Mendenhall announced her intention to run on Sunday and filed her campaign finance paperwork Monday.
Former councilman Stan Penfold officially kicked off his campaign to run for mayor on Saturday with a rally and neighborhood canvassing. Back in October 2018, Penfold had announced a plan to challenge Biskupski in 2019.
They follow Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, and Christian Harrison, former chairman of the Downtown Community Council, who each announced plans to enter the race last week.
Biskupski, who announced in February that she would seek re-election, dropped out of the race last week, citing an undisclosed family situation. She plans to finish out her term.
The following have declared their intentions to join the mayoral race as of Monday:
- Luz Escamilla, state senator
- Jim Dabakis, former state senator
- David Garbett, attorney and former executive director of the Pioneer Park Coalition
- Richard Goldberger, freelance journalist
- Christian Harrison, former Downtown Community Council chairman
- David Ibarra, Salt Lake City businessman
- Aaron Johnson, military veteran
- Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City councilwoman
- Stan Penfold, former Salt Lake City councilman
What happens next?
Technically, none of the nine who have announced intentions to run for mayor is an official candidate, yet. They won’t be a candidate until they have filed their candidacy with the city recorder's office in early June.
At this point, most of those who have thrown their hat into the ring to become Salt Lake City’s 36th mayor have filed the required campaign finance paperwork.
“They have to register with the Salt Lake City Recorder’s Office and open what we call a personal campaign committee, so that’s what everybody is doing right now,” Nicole Smedley, an assistant recorder for the city, explained.
The actual candidate filing period won’t open until June 3. From that Monday through 5 p.m. Friday, June 7, anyone who has finished the paperwork for a personal finance committee can file to be a candidate.
During that week, the city recorder’s office ensures each candidate fits the requirements for mayor.
They have to register with the Salt Lake City Recorder’s Office and open what we call a personal campaign committee, so that’s what everybody is doing right now
–Nicole Smedley, Salt Lake City’s assistant recorder
Registering to be a candidate comes with the price of a $360 fee, or a nominating petition signed by 315 Salt Lake City residents (at least 45 from each of the city's seven districts,) above the age of 18, according to the city recorder's office website.
A candidate has to be a citizen of the U.S. at the time of filing, be a registered voter in Salt Lake City, have been a Salt Lake City resident for 12 months preceding the date of the election, have no other compensated employment with Salt Lake City Corporation, have registered with the aforementioned Personal Campaign Committee before receiving any sort of political contributions or spending money on campaign expenses and must file regular Campaign Finance Statements.
They then have to swear to abide by these conditions, sign to the same effect when they file as a candidate, Smedley said.
It doesn’t matter if a candidate is a seasoned politician or a concerned citizen, “we treat them (all) the same,” she added. “It’s just one of them has a camera crew with them and the other doesn’t.”
Elections
Once that’s all settled, every qualifying candidate goes on the ballot for the Aug. 13 primary election. The results of the primary will determine who gets on the final ballot.
A resolution is on the docket for Tuesday’s Salt Lake City council meeting to finalize an agreement for Salt Lake County to assist with a vote-by-mail primary election. If resolution is approved as expected, all Salt Lake City residents who are registered to vote will get a ballot in the mail for the primary.
“There will still be early vote locations and voting centers for people who want to vote in person,” Smedley said.
After the final election canvass, results will be posted Aug. 27. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will advance to the general election on Nov. 5.
The winner of that election will be sworn in, in Jan. 2020.
