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SALT LAKE CITY — One of Utah's most high-profile Democrats, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, launched his bid for a second term Friday, and his Republican challenger, Dave Robinson, was quick to fire his first arsenal of attacks at the incumbent.
Joined by education, public safety and other community leaders at a news conference in Midvale, McAdams highlighted his top accomplishments since being elected in 2012.
"On my watch, Salt Lake County has been a government where people find solutions by coming together, rolling up their sleeves and finding common ground,” the mayor said. “The county is a thriving metro area, leading out on jobs and economic growth, public safety, fiscal discipline and responsive government.”
Among the achievements McAdams listed were high-quality preschool initiatives, strong economic growth while maintaining strong fiscal discipline, criminal justice and 911 system reform and laying the groundwork for minimizing homelessness.
Later Friday, Robinson issued a prepared statement accusing McAdams of not fulfilling campaign promises.
"Four years ago, Salt Lake County was sold a bill of goods by then Sen. McAdams," Robinson said. "Promises were made to be a fiscal conservative, control the size of government and make things run better. Despite Mayor McAdams' assertions made today, the man we thought we were electing four years ago never showed up."
Robinson, a local businessman, was a candidate in 2015 for Salt Lake City mayor, but he failed to advance past the August primary election.
He accused McAdams of breaking a campaign promise he made with a billboard that said McAdams "raises his kids, not your taxes."
"(That promise) was broken last November with the second tax increase in four years," Robinson said. "We need a leader we can trust to keep his promises. That's why I am running for Salt Lake County mayor."
Last year, the Salt Lake County Council conceded to McAdams' proposal to extend a property tax originally imposed in 1995 and set to expire in 2015. McAdams proposed the levy's extension to invest in criminal justice reform.
However, McAdams said the county has maintained a AAA bond rating, "leading out" on fiscal discipline.
Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder also credited McAdams as being a "proven leader who has put politics aside" as he worked with community members and law enforcement to keep county residents safe.
If re-elected, McAdams said he will continue his work to minimize homelessness, an effort that turned a significant corner earlier this year when the state Legislature agreed to appropriate $9.25 million for homelessness, the first installment of a proposed $27 million, three-year funding plan.
"I am as committed to the people of Salt Lake County as I have ever been," McAdams said. "And if the wonderful citizens will do me the honor of supporting me as their mayor for another four years, I will work every bit as hard to ensure the initiatives we have begun will drive us forward to an even brighter future.”
