Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Jenny Wilson has the backing of the Utah Democratic Black Caucus and a plan to promote diversity in Utah's capital city.

Wilson, a Democrat, announced the endorsement and unveiled her diversity agenda Saturday to coincide with Cinco de Mayo.

"Salt Lake City is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity," she said in a press release. "As mayor of Salt Lake City, I will celebrate and advocate for Salt Lake's diverse communities. Promoting diversity and economic opportunity will be a cornerstone of my administration."

Wilson's plan calls for equal opportunity for Salt Lake City residents and no tolerance for racial discrimination.

The city's workforce should reflect its diverse population, she said, vowing to "promote diversity at every level by hiring a strong, qualified and diverse administration."

If elected, Wilson said she will work to create economic centers on Salt Lake City's diverse west side, provide support for minority-owned small businesses and help immigrant communities "break down barriers they may encounter here in their new homeland."

Wilson is one of eight candidates seeking to replace Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, who has opted not to seek a third term.

Others endorsing Wilson's campaign include Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, Sheriff Jim Winder and county councilmen Joe Hatch and Randy Horiuchi, all Democrats.

Republican mayoral candidate Dave Buhler, a Salt Lake City councilman, has the support of former governors Olene Walker and Norm Bangerter and fellow City Council Republicans Carlton Christensen and Van Turner. Buhler also has the backing of councilwoman Jill Remington Love, a Democrat.

Anderson has endorsed former city councilman Keith Christensen, a Republican, as his successor. Christensen also has the support of former U.S. Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah.

State House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, has the support of former Sen. Karen Hale and current Sen. Scott McCoy, both D-Salt Lake.

The other candidates for mayor are Robert Comstock, a middle-school wood-shop teacher; surgeon J.P. Hughes; Centro Civico Mexicano director John Renteria; and Salt Lake City councilwoman Nancy Saxton.

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Contributing: Doug Smeath

E-mail: jpage@desnews.com