Having seen firsthand her father work through two losing, bruising partisan statewide races, as well as Orton's 1996 defeat, Wilson says she was careful to study the 2007 mayor's race, not getting in until she was sure she could make a good run at winning.

Whoever wins the race, they need to put together a coalition of Democrats and independents. Wilson doesn't believe there are enough Republicans in the city to allow a GOP candidate to win.

Wilson says she's done well among city voters in her two countywide elections. Her race this time around, with well-known Democrat Ralph Becker also in the primary battle, is more uncertain.

If it is a Democrat and a Republican in the final, bet on the Democrat, Wilson says. If it is herself and Becker coming out for the final race, well, she still likes her chances.

"The Salt Lake City's mayor's race is a very good fit for me, politically and otherwise," says Wilson. "I'm a progressive. I'm a Democrat. It would not be best for me to run statewide. My ideology fits city residents."

Utah is a very Republican state, and it is important that the mayor of the state's largest city and capital has a Democrat who can help balance the state politically, Wilson believes.

"My job is to get the progressives out there to vote — not necessarily only the Democrats out to vote," she says.

Jenny Wilson background

•Born: Nov. 1, 1965, in Salt Lake City

•Parents: Ted Wilson, Kathy Wilson; Holly Mullen, step-mother

•Married: Trell Rohovit, July 1, 2000

•Two sons, Zachary and Max

Education:

•Graduated from East High School, 1983

•B.S., communication, University of Utah, 1988

•Master's in public administration, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, 1998

Professional career:

•Press secretary, Wilson for Governor, 1988

•Government relations, National Cable Television Association, 1989

•Assistant press secretary, Congressman Les AuCoin (D-OR), 1990

•Sundance Group, 1991

•Communications director, AuCoin for Senate, 1992

•Communications director/chief of staff, Congressman Bill Orton (D-UT), 1992-96

•Campaign manager, Dave Jones for Mayor, 1999

•Volunteer director, Salt Lake Organizing Committee, 2002 Winter Olympics, 2000-02

•Voices for Utah Children, director "Covering Kids," a program to enroll low- to medium-income families in CHIP and Medicaid, 2003-04

Political service: