Salt Lake Mayor can influence education, candidates say

Dave Buhler has an idea for improving education in Salt Lake City: Keep fellow mayoral candidate Ralph Becker in the state Legislature.

"Most of the funding for our schools comes from the state Legislature, so I would like to suggest that we keep Ralph at the state Legislature awhile longer," Buhler said during a debate hosted by the Salt Lake Rotary Club today at the Downtown Marriott.

"If (Becker) keeps working at it, he can convince more of his colleagues to support public education more than they are now," Buhler said. "So the best thing you can do for public education is vote for me and keep Ralph in the Legislature."

The playful suggestion was met with laughter from Rotarians and even seemed to amuse Becker, who then turned the tables on Buhler.

"I would invite Dave to go up there to the Legislature, where I've been beating my head against the wall for a number of years on this topic, and carry on the fight," said Becker, Democratic leader in the state House. "As a Republican, you may be able to do better."

The exchange was one of the lighter moments of the debate, during which candidates fielded questions about several issues facing the city — crime in Pioneer Park, downtown development, water and transportation.

Unlike those issues, improving public education often isn't associated with the city or the office of mayor because it's a separate entity. But both candidates said there are things the mayor can do to influence public education in the city.

Buhler cited recent efforts in the Legislature to equalize school-construction funds — action stemming from east-side Salt Lake County cities wanting to split from the Jordan School District — that would have resulted in an $11.3 million tax hike for Salt Lake City taxpayers.

"I felt like I was living next door to a couple who was getting divorced and the judge ordered me to pay the alimony," he said.

Buhler said he met with Salt Lake City School District officials in his capacity as a Salt Lake City councilman and lobbied state legislators to make sure the city's concerns were addressed.

"We got that turned around, at least temporarily," said Buhler, who spent four years in the state Senate. "That's an example where a mayor, using his contacts, using his understanding of the Legislature, using his relationships for the benefit of our schools, can be very important."