"This is a blue (Democratic) city in a very red (Republican) state," says Wilson. While party politics is part of the city, it only really comes into play when the city deals with the Republican-controlled Legislature, she says.

Wilson believes that unlike current Democratic Mayor Rocky Anderson, she can have a good relationship with state officials. "I'm a people person. I'm a collaborative worker," she says.

Much of the mayor's work is basic service delivery — "fixing roads and such." But political philosophy does enter in. Wilson says she is very pro human rights and equal rights, as well as the best candidate on gay issues.

She also believes the next Salt Lake mayor can make a real difference in air quality and other environmental concerns.

"I'm a mom, with two small boys, and I look at issues first as a mom — especially the environment and education."

Wilson, 41, who only briefly used her married name before returning to "Wilson," is married to Trell Rohovit, the chief executive officer of the high-tech software and integration firm Venafi. The firm does no business with the city, she says.

Balancing a family life with public service "was a real issue" with Wilson before she and her husband decided on her run for mayor this year. She takes Zack, 5, and Max, 2, with her on the campaign trail for an hour or so each Saturday, "before they get restless" and have to go back with Dad, she says.

To spend time with her boys, Wilson starts campaigning late on other days or ends early.

"I have to budget my time" between the two pursuits, she says. But she's managed competing interests most of her life anyway, she adds. (Other top mayoral candidates don't have small children at home.)

Wilson's friend Rachael Crosswhite says Wilson "is a champ" as a mom. At a swimming pool last summer when their sons were taking swimming lessons, Wilson got a cell-phone call concerning the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium.

"She went into this tough conversation on the stadium, all the while feeding her little boy mashed bananas," says Crosswhite. "She never missed a beat. And when she got off the phone, the stadium discussion was out, and we resumed our conversation about the right time for potty training. That's Jenny multitasking at her best."

Wilson says seeing her own father at work as mayor when she was a child was an invaluable experience.

"For me, it was great being a mayor's daughter," she says. "My dad was my gateway to politics, my gateway to the exposure with the Salt Lake community. He had such a fine skill set, a great mediator. As kids, we had to listen to the other side of all issues."