Election 2009: 6 candidates left for S.L. Council

Prostitutes and gangs. Local pubs and monster homes. Police precincts and streetcars.

These are some of the top issues facing the six remaining Salt Lake City Council candidates as the Nov. 4 election nears.

With two-term Councilman Eric Jergensen declining to seek re-election, the city is guaranteed to see at least one new council member in 2010. In Sugar House and on the west side, however, two incumbents are fighting for four more years apiece.

District 1

Council Chairman Carlton Christensen has seemingly entrenched himself as the representative for the capital's northwest neighborhoods. In seeking his fourth term in office, the moderate Republican has garnered endorsements from political players in both parities, including Mayor Ralph Becker.

So even after advancing from September's primary election, challenger Leslie Reynolds-Benns thought of throwing in the towel, but has since reconsidered.

"That was just a moment when I caved in on myself," said Reynolds-Benns, an author and therapist. "It's always overwhelming to run against Carlton, but I have to take him on because he doesn't deal with the issues that are important to me."

A top priority for the challenger: "Dealing with the prostitutes on North Temple."

Christensen admits to problems with gangs and prostitutes on the west side, but he disagrees with Reynolds-Benns' claims that he has done little to address the issue.

"I genuinely believe we've done a lot of good," Christensen said. "I don't have any illusion that they'll go away overnight. Part of that is looking at redeveloping North Temple into a more public place with a better atmosphere, and turning it into an economic engine in the community."

Reynolds-Benns said she believes she can better relate to the district's Hispanic residents, since she has lived in Mexico and can speak Spanish.

Christensen, she said, dominates at the ballot box because of his ties to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"A comment like that borders on being offensive," Christensen replied. "I don't make excuses for my faith, but I have not let it dominate my politics. If anything, I've gone the extra mile to avoid any appearance of involvement from the church. And frankly, the numbers (of LDS voters in the district) don't justify that."

District 3