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SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah assistant professor Darin Masao Mano is the newest member of the Salt Lake City Council.
Just moments after being chosen from a field of 28 candidates, Mano was sworn in, posed for a group photo, and then voted on Tuesday’s consent calendar.
The architect and urban planner fills the vacancy left when Erin Mendenhall was elected Salt Lake’s mayor. The newest District 5 representative made his pitch to the City Council Tuesday afternoon when all 28 candidates had a few minutes to tell council members what they would bring to the city’s governing body.
After listening to all 28 candidates, council members took six straw polls that left them with three candidates — Mano, Sarah Elizabeth Reale, and Crystal Young-Otterstrom. Each of the final three had a few minutes to offer some final insight into what made them uniquely qualified to fill the vacancy.
“I have more experience with planning and land use issues,” Mano said, after complimenting the other finalists. “And I think as a City Council, and as an RDA board, a lot of what you do is make decisions on planning and land use. What happens with certain parcels, whether they get re-zoned or looking at zoning text amendments, or looking at new RDA project areas, I think those are all really vital, important things that you do as a body.”
He said his work as an architect and an educator has given him experience in what helps cities thrive.
“I think I have a lot of experience within this building,” he said. “Working on the redevelopment advisory committee and serving on the planning commission, I’ve held positions that are decision-making positions on these issues. And I think that will be valuable to my work on the city council.”
He ended with what matters most to him.
“I wrote in my questionnaire that I believe in honesty and integrity,” he said. “And I really believe that is something that we lack with a lot of governmental bodies. I believe that our city, our community can only get behind us in so much as they trust us. I think in order to build trust, we have to listen, we have to be able to build relationships with people, with concerned citizens.”
He said that even when leaders disagree with public opinions, they need to understand where they come from and why they matter to those individuals.
“My experience on the planning commission has taught me how important that public processes is and has given me some tools and some experience with how to deal with those situations.”
I wrote in my questionnaire that I believe in honesty and integrity. And I really believe that is something that we lack with a lot of governmental bodies. I believe that our city, our community can only get behind us in so much as they trust us.
–U. assistant professor Darin Masao Mano
After the council voted to appoint Mano to represent District 5, he received a standing ovation from those in the chamber, which included many of the other applicants.
“I join the council with enthusiasm and pride,” Mano said. “I’m thrilled to serve District 5 residents and our city as a whole.’’
“We had a great pool of qualified candidates to represent the district. It was a very tough choice,” said Council Chairman Chris Wharton. “We welcome Darin to the council as we continue to help make the capital city an even better place to work and live.”
Mano was sworn in to the office by the assistant city recorder (a public notary) following a public council vote on the candidates. The remainder of the term lasts through January 2022.
