Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Dave Buhler on Wednesday announced another big-name backer of his campaign.

Former Gov. Olene Walker has become the second former governor, after Norm Bangerter, to endorse the current city councilman's candidacy.

"He has the right experience, is reasonable and cares about the issues that are important to Salt Lake City," Walker was quoted as saying in a statement released by Buhler's campaign. "I particularly like his focus on education and agree with him that with the right leadership, the city can do more to support our schools and students."

Bangerter and Walker are both Republicans, as is Buhler.

Buhler has been endorsed by fellow Republicans on the council Carlton Christensen and Van Turner. Buhler also has the backing of Councilwoman Jill Remington Love, a Democrat.

City Council seats and the mayor's office are officially nonpartisan, but the office holders frequently have identifiable partisan affiliations. Buhler served in the state Senate in the early 1990s as a Republican.

Other endorsements that have been announced in the mayoral campaign include County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, a Democrat, who has the support of county Mayor Peter Corroon, Sheriff Jim Winder and County Councilmen Joe Hatch and Randy Horiuchi, all Democrats.

Former City Councilman Keith Christensen, a Republican, has been endorsed by Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, a Democrat who is not seeking re-election, and 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.

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