GOP leads mayor $$ race

In reliably Democratic Salt Lake City's mayoral race, two Republicans so far are winning the race for cash.

Former City Councilman Keith Christensen had a strong lead in campaign-contribution disclosures filed with the city Thursday — having raised more than $257,000. Current Councilman Dave Buhler is his closest rival, with about $123,000.

The best-funded Democrat, County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, has raised more than $106,000.

"I'm honored by the support at this point," Christensen said. "I hope that it shows to all that the community is very interested in this race."

If money is a predictor of success in the October primary race, which will narrow the field of 10 candidates to two, the capital city is on track for an unusual election season. The past three mayoral races have been between two Democrats, with Republican challengers knocked out in the primaries. Salt Lake hasn't had a Republican mayor since the early 1970s.

"They have a challenge," Wilson said of the Republicans in the race. "It's a Democratic city. We have a very popular Democratic mayor in office."

She theorized that Christensen and Buhler have been successful so far in fund raising because they have had to dig deep into their base — and because Republicans are traditionally good fund-raisers.

But Christensen said his support has been based on more than that.

"The Republican Party has not helped me raise money," he said. "I've not asked them to, and I don't intend to. This is a nonpartisan city, and the support that comes, I hope to see it from across party lines. My objective is to become the mayor of Salt Lake City for everyone, not for party or for a constituency that's narrow."

Christensen's candidacy has been endorsed by current Mayor Rocky Anderson, a Democrat who has given the Christensen campaign $7,500 — the most allowed by law — left over from his own 2003 race.

Other donors of note to the Christensen campaign include The Boyer Co.; Anderson's 2003 Republican challenger Molonai Hola, who is chairman of Christensen's campaign; and Spence Eccles, president of the Eccles Foundation and a former chief executive officer of First Security Corp., and his wife, Cleone Eccles, who donated $7,500 each.

Former Democratic state Sen. Bob Steiner and former Republican Gov. Norm Bangerter were among Buhler's donors.

"I'm just really pleased with the support I'm receiving," Buhler said. "I'm well ahead of where I thought I'd be at this point."