Christensen joins mayor's race

"We have enough that I can afford to give some time back to the community, and that's why I'm doing this," Christensen said. "I intend that others will support me because my part in this is to donate my time."

City Councilwoman Nancy Saxton, who is the only other person to formally announce a run for mayor in 2007, said this race is starting early and will cost plenty for anyone serious about winning the post. In the 2003 mayoral race, Anderson outspent challenger Frank Pignanelli by $769,000 to $385,000. Saxton said the level of spending in that contest raised the Salt Lake mayor's race to new financial heights.

"There are people with lots of money who are very interested in Salt Lake City," said Saxton, who recently sold off all but one of her businesses to settle private debts. "I just hope that with this early interest and with the importance of Salt Lake City, the citizens will also realize that it is important to donate early and to the candidate of their choice."

Besides Saxton and Christensen, City Council members Dave Buhler, Eric Jergensen, Jill Remington Love and Carlton Christensen are rumored to be considering the mayoral race. Additionally, County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake Republican Party Chairman James Evans and House Minority Leader Ralph Becker are considering running. And to add a face of youth to the race, 24-year-old Nick Bryson contacted the Deseret Morning News on Monday to declare his candidacy.

Christensen helped to broker a deal with Anderson over the east-west TRAX rail line in 1999 just after the mayor was elected to his first term. Christensen, who was on the council from 1993 to 2001, worked through major Salt Lake projects such as the development of the Grand America block, the Main Street TRAX line, The Gateway's inception, the beginning of the Main Street Plaza exchange with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and an anti-discrimination policy for the city.

Through Wind River Petroleum, Christensen has purchased products from Sinclair Oil, a company owned by Earl Holding, who built the Grand America hotel on the downtown city block between Main Street, State Street, 500 South and 600 South.

During court fights between Sinclair and two businesses on the block throughout 1995 and 1996, the businesses argued that Christensen had a conflict of interest both because of the business dealings and two loans from Sinclair to Wind River Petroleum. Christensen was ultimately cleared of any conflicts of interest in the case, and he still purchases gas for Wind River's Top Stop chain from Sinclair.

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E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com

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