Mayor Ben McAdams calls out Becker challenger Biskupski in TV ad


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SALT LAKE CITY — In one of Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's TV ads scheduled to air Monday, the Salt Lake County mayor directly singles out Becker's rival, Jackie Biskupski.

"I need a strong partnership in Salt Lake City, and I'm not sure Jackie has the vision or leadership to be that partner," Mayor Ben McAdams says in the new ad. "Ralph Becker is the only candidate with the leadership and experience to get the job done."

When Biskupski's campaign spokeswoman, Maryann Martindale, was informed of the ad Friday, she said she was disappointed to hear Becker is "turning to negative politics in an effort to save his re-election campaign," despite his "war chest of hundreds of thousands of dollars."

According to the latest campaign finance disclosures, Becker has more than $380,000 to spend, about $300,000 more than Biskupski.

"We have faith in Salt Lake City voters that they will not fall for these attacks by Ralph Becker," Martindale said, pointing to Biskupski's experience in the Utah Legislature and as an adviser to Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder. "We hope the mayor will cease with these personal, negative attacks. Winning elected office is not worth sacrificing your integrity."

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But Becker's campaign spokesman, Matt Lyon, said the ad was not designed to attack Biskupski.

"This is not a negative ad in any way, shape or form," he said. "Comparing a candidate's track record is by no means a negative ad."

Lyon said, instead, Biskupski has maintained a negative tone throughout her campaign, while criticizing Becker's involvement in city projects like bike lanes, and accusing him of working a backroom deal to relocate the prison in Salt Lake City, among other issues.

"(Biskupski) has had this anger in her campaign, but we're not angry," Lyon said. "We're just trying to tell a story that (Becker) has a vision and plan for the city, and his opponent hasn't really presented anything that's different from what's already happening or articulated why the city needs to go in a different direction.

As of Friday, Becker's campaign has spent more than $46,000 on KSL-TV ads alone. Biskupski has yet to broadcast any television commercials, but her campaign staff has indicated if the funds become available, they may pursue the medium.

Biskupski finished more than 15 percent ahead of Becker in the primary election.

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Katie McKellar

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