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SALT LAKE CITY — Mayor Ralph Becker accused challenger Jackie Biskupski of engaging in "last-minute scare tactics" and "political pandering" Thursday over fliers that paint the incumbent mayor as anti-golf.
But Biskupski's campaign manager, Lindsay Barenz, said her campaign had nothing to do with the handouts and in turn raised suspicions that Becker's campaign is actually behind the fliers.
"Becker wins, courses close," the fliers state, urging donations to Biskupski's campaign website to "save Glendale and Salt Lake City golf."
Becker's campaign spokesman, Matt Lyon, said the fliers were found on cars parked at the University of Utah.
"Instead of talking about her vision and plans for Salt Lake, Biskupski is more interested in one final smear campaign," Becker said. "Our residents can see through dirty campaign tactics. They want a leader who will present a concrete action plan for our great city, not someone who hides behind anonymous fliers."
Barenz said she has "no idea" who created the flier but added that she "wouldn't rule out the possibility that the Becker campaign was involved."
"The Biskupski campaign unequivocally denies any involvement with the anonymous flier and finds the accusations by the Becker campaign to be libelous, desperate and ridiculous," Barenz said. "This flier is clearly intended to inflame her opposition and create hype for the lagging Becker campaign."
Lyon called Biskupski's claims "far-fetched," pointing to other groups that she has said have invested in her campaign independently — including a political action committee led by owners of the same company that built several billboards advertising Biskupski's campaign.
Biskupski and the PAC leaders have denied any coordination on the signs, which would exceed Salt Lake City's mayoral campaign contribution limits of $7,500.
Independent PAC spending has no legal limit. The billboard PAC's spending has neared $150,000 in this year's election, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
"Rather than pandering to special interests and political spin, I challenge my opponent to get specific about her plans for Salt Lake City," Becker said. "Would you keep all the golf courses open, or would you close some of them? If left open, how will you fund them, and where will you get the money?"
The mayor said he and the City Council have spent years seeking solutions for the city's struggling golf fund, which has racked up more than $800,000 in operating deficits and needs more than $20 million in upgrades over the next 10 years.
Both Glendale and Wingpointe courses are slated for closure to restore the fund's viability.
Barenz did not address Becker's questions but said one statement by Becker is true: Voters will see through dirty campaign tricks.
"We have no doubt they'll see right through this late-in-the-game attack on Biskupski's character," she said. "Our city deserves better."
