Municipal elections get to the heart of politics

Pignanelli: It's municipal election time. Time for capable, good-hearted, thick-skinned and civic-minded men and women to commit to a little public service by running for mayor or the city council in one of Utah's 241 cities and towns. The 30-day filing period for candidates began Friday and runs through Aug. 15.

Pignanelli: The dominant controversy in the capital city is whether a "White Male Mormon Republican" (a.k.a. WMMR) should hold public office. This is the predominant issue in Council District 1 (Northwest quadrant) where Carlton Christensen is seeking his third term against Leslie Reynolds-Benns. Christensen is a classic WMMR , once employed by the LDS Church, and Christensen is still well-liked by constituents of various denominations and ran unopposed four years ago. Reynolds-Benns, a Ph.D. and author, has stated the religious and political affiliation of the incumbent is the important question of the campaign. Traditionally, this area sends Democrats to the State Capitol but usually elects WMMRs to serve in City Council. There is much interest in whether the Reynolds-Benns strategy of openly playing the religious card can overcome the support and respect Christensen enjoys — and deserves.

Politicos were anticipating a hotly contested race in District 1 between WMMR incumbent Eric Jergensen and popular attorney Jane Marquardt. The challenger has since withdrawn and Mayor Rocky Anderson is searching for another challenger to unseat Jergensen. Despite the burden of a WMMR profile, Jergensen is well liked in the Avenues/Capitol Hill neighborhoods. Early next week, 3,000 residents will receive a letter signed by high-profile Democrats, Republicans and community leaders expressing their support of Jergensen.

Councilman Dale Lambert (a WMM Democrat) is retiring. Rumors are spreading that respected neighborhood activist Larry Richards may announce his candidacy. Richards is program director with LDS Business College and grandson of beloved Republican legislator Lamont Richards (one cannot get more WMMR).

Councilwoman Jill Remington-Love, a female Mormon Democrat, has successfully avoided half of the WMMR blemish. Well-known for responsiveness to constituent matters, she has artfully garnered support from both sides of the political spectrum.