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SALT LAKE CITY -- Salt Lake City's mayor and council members are already raising questions about a state lawmaker's opposition to a proposed anti-discrimination housing law in the city.
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker says he heard Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, may try to reverse any non-discrimination ordinance, which the state does have power to do.
"We hope they will be considerate of us as we certainly want to be considerate of other communities," Becker said. "We have discrimination, and it's documented, and it's not significant."
Buttars has been reported as saying he questions the validity of some discrimination claims.
"I am a little surprised," City Council Chairman Carlton Christensen said. He says the opposition is too early because the measure is still being formulated, and it shouldn't be "torpedoed" yet.
"You know, we haven't left the dock and we obviously still have some time to go," Christensen said. "So I would hope that we could have some dialogue, even with Senator Buttars."
"We look forward to spending some time with Senator Buttars and showing him the results of our research [and] of our input from the public," Becker said.
Buttars has also been quoted as saying he doesn't think anyone should be discriminated against.
Calls to Sen. Buttars have not been returned.
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Story compiled with contributions from Paul Nelson and Andrew Adams.
