Blog: 8 candidates participate in SLC mayoral debate

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SALT LAKE CITY — KSL TV will host the second round of debates for the Salt Lake City mayoral race at noon Monday. All eight candidates in the crowded race are expected to participate.

Candidates include Luz Escamilla, Jim Dabakis, David Garbett, Erin Mendenhall, Stan Penfold, David Ibarra, Rainer Huck and Richard Goldberger. Issues such as the Utah Inland Port, homelessness, air quality, housing affordability and infrastructure are expected to be discussed. Doug Wright will be moderating the debate.

Live updates of the debate will follow.

Watch the debate below:

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly identified candidate Jim Dabakis as Jim Debakis. This article has been updated to reflect that correction.

Monday, 01:08pm

What would you like the voters to know about you?

Penfold argued that former state representatives have been mayors before, and it was time to look back to more grassroots public servants for a future mayor. Mendenhall declared her commitment and experience with city government and pledges to implement effective policy based on community feedback. Ibarra recalled the streets of Salt Lake City as his childhood playground and looked back to his experience helping students achieve higher education, as well as other acts of public service. Huck said that many of the recent Salt Lake City changes have often not been positive, and he wants to improve homelessness and other essential issues. Goldberger wants to create common sense in government and work as a public service. He also joked about appreciating donations to his gofundme page. Garbett argued that the city can be as impressive as its world-class mountains and reiterated bold plans on reducing emissions. Escamilla said SLC is her American dream and wants people to look back on her experience and reputation. Dabakis also called people back to his experience and said serving in schools and neighborhoods has been the best part of his life. He said he hopes he will be allowed to expand that service.

Monday, 01:04pm

Reducing traffic

Huck pointed to autonomous electric cars as a solution, not only to air emissions, but argued it will make mass transit and traffic obsolete. Ibarra argued that mass transit will always exist and is an essential way to move people within the city. He also discussed the implementation of a shared autonomous car system to revolutionize mass transit. Dabakis wants to make mass transit free and more appealing to Salt Lake City residents, and hopes to encourage electric scooters, bikes and all forms of transit that encourage individuals to explore the beautiful landscape. Escamilla stated that air pollution is an issue of quality of life, and hopes to build bridges with the legislature to introduce new solutions.

Monday, 12:51pm

How to work with the legislature

Garbett looked back on his experience as an environmental lawyer on Utah’s Capitol Hill, which he stated was often unpopular. He argued for a future which unified over future Olympic negotiations and other important causes. Escamilla relied on her experience as a “Salt Lake City champion” in the legislature and believes she could work with her legislative colleagues Dabakis joked that he would miss Escamilla in the senate if she became mayor and recalled their shared experience with the legislature. He also discussed his work in attempting to foster a relationship between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the LGBT community as an example of forging difficult relationships.

Monday, 12:42pm

Inland Port Authority

Mendenhall stated her belief that the Inland Port steals tax revenue from Salt Lake City and is an unprecedented "abomination." She agreed with the pending lawsuit against the port. Escamilla reiterated her voting record in the state house, which opposed the inland port. She prioritizes the respect and autonomy of Salt Lake City residents. Penford argued that the inland port would drastically increase emissions and thwart current attempts to improve air quality. He then stated that he would work with the city council to oppose the port. Garbett stated that he supported nonviolent protests against the port to galvanize the community, and also stated he supported the lawsuit against the port. Dabakis discussed how other parts of Utah superimposed their authority to take area away from Salt Lake City. He committed himself to discussion with the legislature regarding the port. Ibarra also pledged his support for the lawsuit and said the port must have zero net emissions. Huck doubled down on his position that a lawsuit against the port would waste taxpayer dollars. Goldberger also argued against litigation and stated he would extend the inland port into Tooele and Wendover.

Monday, 12:25pm

How to improve Utah air quality

Mendenhall discussed her extensive background of work relating to air quality. She encouraged renewable public transit while renegotiating energy with major Utah power companies. Goldberger stated that he believed in the creation of a Salt Lake police department to enforce air quality standards and would push cars to be up to current regulation standards. Huck relied on his experience as an electrical engineer as he painted a future where the emergence of electric cars would naturally improve air quality within Utah.

Monday, 12:15pm

Homelessness

Ibarra urged individuals to embrace existing homelessness initiatives in order to get individuals off the streets. He said we must look to examples in other major U.S. cities, such as Austin, Texas, and Tampa, Florida, for effective homelessness solutions. Mendenhall said she believes that those that are homeless, housed or not, are neighbors who need help in the time of need. She recalled her support for the women’s only resource center and argues in favor of programs to prepare for winter. Penfold argued in favor of a “housing first” initiative to get people off the street and then connect them with more essential resources to get them onto their feet. Garbett wants a two-fold approach to homelessness. First, he believes Salt Lake City must have resources and options to combat homelessness. Second, Salt Lake City must take leadership and coordinate governments and corporations to connect individuals with resources. Escamilla points towards a multi-level governmental approach utilizing community councils and city halls to alleviate homelessness. Huck endorses a homeless campus to house 5,000 people in order to get them off the streets. He also pledges to effectively reduce spending to $3,000 per person, a drastic decrease compared to other homelessness programs. Goldberger vowed to declare a state of emergency over homelessness within the first five minutes of his tenure as mayor if elected. He argued that homelessness is a humanitarian emergency and agrees not only with Huck’s homelessness camp, but promises to create even more outreach. Dabakis remembered a recent visit to Seattle where he felt the city had given up on its homeless. He said he appreciates Salt Lake City’s approach of compassion in contrast to Seattle, and hopes to work with the governor, lieutenant governor, and private corporations to create more aid for Salt Lake City’s homeless.

Blog: 8 candidates participate in SLC mayoral debate

By Katie Workman for KSL.com | Updated - July 15, 2019 at 1:08 p.m. | Posted - July 15, 2019 at 11:46 a.m.

(Katie Workman, KSL.com)

Watch the debate below:

What would you like the voters to know about you?

Reducing traffic

How to work with the legislature

Inland Port Authority

How to improve Utah air quality

Homelessness

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Blog: 8 candidates participate in SLC mayoral debate

By Katie Workman for KSL.com | Updated - July 15, 2019 at 1:08 p.m. | Posted - July 15, 2019 at 11:46 a.m.

(Katie Workman, KSL.com)

Watch the debate below:

What would you like the voters to know about you?

Reducing traffic

How to work with the legislature

Inland Port Authority

How to improve Utah air quality

Homelessness

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