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SALT LAKE CITY — After initially ruling out a run for the open Salt Lake County Council seat, Democrat Shireen Ghorbani has decided to get in the race.
Ghorbani told reporters after losing the county mayor's race to longtime Councilwoman Jenny Wilson last Saturday that being on the council wasn't a good fit for her life.
"A lot can change in just a few days," Ghorbani said Wednesday.
Ghorbani said she didn't feel like she could give the time and attention required to be an effective part-time council member and maintain a demanding full-time job. She works as an associate director in facilities management at the University of Utah.
She said she sat down with her employer on Tuesday and came up with a plan to reduce her hours, allowing to run for the at-large seat.
"I'm not ready to stop working to find solutions on affordable housing, improving our air quality, prioritizing addiction treatment and mental health care services and protecting our open spaces and canyons," she said.
Ghorbani also lost a bid Congress last year.
The Salt Lake County Democratic Party has 30 days from Wilson's resignation to choose a replacement. A date for the special election has not been set.
