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Richard Piatt ReportingThe Primary Election is a week away and there's a sense of urgency in the race for Salt Lake City Mayor. The three leading candidates have debated one another several times this week. Tonight they squared off at Westminister College.
Tonight's debate didn't throw off a lot of sparks, that's for sure. Instead, Rocky Anderson's challengers seemed to simply say, 'If you don't like him, elect us instead.'
It was a civilized discourse of exactly an hour. No applause. No flare-ups. Mostly students listened closely to see if they liked what the candidates said and how they said it.
On diversity: Revealing answers about their view of what that means to a city.
Moloni Hola, Candidate For Mayor: "I'm all about diversity, and I am diversity."
Frank Pignanelli, Candidate For Mayor: "I'm an Italian Irish Catholic democrat married to a Swiss German Mormon. So I offer some perspectives there."
Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake City Mayor: "I have committed to that in my administration just as I have as mayor from day one."
How about economic development and public safety? Fixing those crumbling sidewalks? All say those are priorities. But who the best to get it all done? Anderson says he has the track record.
Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake City Mayor: "Employer review just ranked us the 10th best place to live and work in the nation. Let’s keep that progress going with the best team in city government today."
Pignanelli says he has the connections and the temperance.
Frank Pignanelli, Candidate For Mayor: "Yes, I've been endorsed by the majority of city council members because they want to work with someone that has relationships with people across the state. That we can get Utahns excited about the capitol city again."
And Hola says he's something different.
Moloni Hola, Candidate For Mayor: "I am not a lawyer or a politician. I am a businessman. I’m not a lobbyist. I am a businessman who is responsible to run a corporation efficiently and responsibly. I am not a democrat."
