SALT LAKE CITY — Utah state senator Luz Escamilla and Utah councilwoman Erin Mendenhall faced off last night in downtown Salt Lake City. Both women are seeking to get elected in the upcoming elections for the office of Salt Lake City mayor.
The 60-minute debate touched on issues a lot of Salt Lake City residents are very concerned about.
“We have not heard from you, we have not heard from the state, and it’s a little disconcerting that you don’t actually understand the tool, that if you win as mayor, would be yours as the executive director,” said Erin Mendenhall, City Council District 5.
The mayoral debate kicked off with topics most city residents are not just concerned about, but are also frustrated in finding a solution to fix issues such as homeless shelters, air quality, the in-land port and education.
“The school district is not represented on that tax. Our schools are losing 40 percent of that future tax revenue on that area,” said Mendenhall.
Both candidates are promising change and action to these issues and like any political debate, the clash between the candidates is what made the night.
“We talked a lot tonight about some of the big challenges facing us. In reality, there are some really big opportunities if we have the kind of mayor with a vision to hold that together,” said Mendenhall.
Luz Escamilla is a Utah State Senator, and many city residents see her run for mayor as a symbol of hope in representing minorities. Erin Mendenhall’s advocacy for clean air is what pushed her to get into politics and now seeks the office of mayor to bring change to Utah.
“Salt Lake City needs a mayor who has the vision to see that our challenges and our opportunities are not mutually exclusive,” said Mendenhall.
Both Escamilla and Mendenhall have been on the campaign trail, exposing their political opinions, public policy proposals, and criticism of them to potential voters.
“I want the same quality of life and opportunities for my children. My opponent and I agree on the issues, but we may disagree on how to make solutions,” said Luz Escamilla, Utah State Senator representing the first district.
Salt Lake City residents will get their chance to cast their ballot on November 5 to decide who will be the next city’s mayor.
