Becker called the skybridge a "bad idea," saying skybridges "take people off the street." He also warned against the dangers of bowing to the demands of large developers, such as the LDS Church, instead of looking out for the community as a whole.

That said, Becker also called the Salt Lake City Council's action of amending the city's master plan to accommodate the skybridge "a good decision."

"Ralph is against it but he thinks we made a good decision?" Buhler asked rhetorically.

Becker clarified that he agreed with the council's decision to allow skybridges to be considered only if if they meet certain conditions.

A recent Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll conducted by Dan Jones & Associates indicates that Becker has an 18-percentage-point lead lead over Buhler in the race to become the next mayor of Salt Lake City.

The poll showed that Becker is favored by 51 percent of Salt Lake City registered voters; Buhler has 33 percent support. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

Though the race is nonpartisan, Salt Lake City voters have not elected a Republican mayor since 1971.

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E-mail: jpage@desnews.com