Ralph Becker leads in SLC mayor's race

State Rep. Ralph Becker held a steady lead in the primary election Tuesday for Salt Lake City mayor.

The mayor's race is technically nonpartisan, and the top two vote-getters in the primary will run in the general election Nov. 6.

Becker, Democratic minority leader in the House, had nearly 40 percent of the vote with more than 87 percent of 167 precincts reporting in unofficial returns Tuesday posted on the Salt Lake County Clerk's Web site.

City Council member Dave Buhler, a Republican, had nearly 27 percent while City Council member Jenny Wilson, a Democrat, had just over 23 percent.

In fourth place was Republican-turned-Independent Keith Christensen with more than 8.5 percent of the vote.

Wilson is the daughter of a former mayor, while Buhler is a former state senator making his second run for mayor. He lost in 1991 to DeeDee Corradini.

Christensen leads in money raised for the race. He also won the endorsement of Democrat Rocky Anderson, who decided not to seek a third term as Salt Lake City mayor.

Surgeon J.P. Hughes had more than 1 percent of the vote.

None of the other four candidates had received 1 percent of the vote in unofficial returns. They are John Renteria, Rainer Huck, Quinn Cady McDonough and Robert "Lot" Muscheck.

Salt Lake City last elected a Republican mayor in 1971 — Jake Garn — who went on to serve in the U.S. Senate.