Centro Civico Mexicano director John Renteria, back at home after having spent two weeks in jail, says he still plans to run for mayor of Salt Lake City.

Renteria was released from jail June 21 and placed on an ankle-monitoring system after a 3rd District judge ended early his one-year jail sentence on a probation violation.

Since then, Renteria has not been heard from publicly, and his attorneys, friends and supporters have told the media they were unsure of the future of his candidacy. But on Tuesday, Renteria said in a telephone message, "Yeah, I'm still in."

The Deseret Morning News was unable to reach him in person Tuesday to discuss his plans further. Renteria has not yet officially filed his candidacy. The filing period began Monday and will end July 16.

Renteria pleaded guilty in November 2005 to attempted failure to stop at an officer's command, driving a car with incorrectly positioned plates and failure to obey a traffic-control device, all misdemeanors. The sentence for those convictions was a year in jail, but that sentence was suspended in favor of probation.

He landed in jail June 8 after he told the judge he drank alcohol in violation of his probation and had twice driven on a revoked license. The judge sentenced him to jail for a year. However, at a review hearing June 21 attended by more than a dozen Renteria supporters, she agreed to release him and place him on an ankle-monitoring system.

Renteria also plans to continue running Centro Civico, although details on how his role will be affected by his probation are unclear. Members of the center's board of directors did not return telephone calls seeking comment Tuesday.

The ankle-monitoring system will track Renteria's movements, and he is on a strict court-approved schedule of when he is free to come and go.

That schedule could affect Renteria's campaigning dramatically as he will not be free to spend as much time on the campaign trail as other candidates.

Several other candidates have already filed to run for mayor of Salt Lake City. Councilman Dave Buhler, colorectal surgeon J.P. Hughes, Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson and House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake.

Others who have said they are planning a run or are considering it but have not yet filed are former City Councilman Keith Christensen and consultant Robert Muscheck.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com