Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Keith McCord ReportingSaturday we told you about the approval rating for Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, according to a survey conducted by Dan Jones and Associates. Anderson isn't seeking re-election this year, but a lot of folks are interested in the job. Here's how they are stacking up in the minds of voters.
First of all, we know it's early! Election Day for the Salt Lake mayor's job isn't until November 6. But there are already 10 candidates who are running. Dan Jones and Associates put the list before Salt lake voters last week and only two get double-digit recognition right now: City Councilman Dave Buhler with 12 percent and County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson has 20 percent.
Forty-four percent of the people surveyed don't know who they'll vote for, and of that group, when asked if they lean toward any candidate, 85 percent say they still don't know.
The survey also asked about a candidate's City Hall experience and whether that's important. Sixty-four percent of the voters said yes, having a background in city politics is important. One third said it's not.
The Salt Lake Mayor's race is non-partisan; that is, on Election Day, it's not a Republican versus a Democrat. Should that change? Sicty nine percent of the voters think a non-partisan election is fine; 24 percent would like to have the choice.
On that note, voters were asked if a candidate's political party impacts who they vote for? Twenty-one percent said it has a great deal of impact, 33 percent said some and 44 percent said party affiliation in this race has little effect.
What about religious affiliation? Does that matter in the voter's minds? Eleven percent said a great deal, 25 percent said some and 62percent said it won't matter at all when they cast their ballots.
This long list of candidates will be narrowed down to two in the primary in September.
Dan Jones and Associates surveyed 413 Salt Lake residents for this poll last Tuesday and Wednesday.
