In her commentary published on Oct. 25 in The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall limits the discussion of experience to her six years on the Salt Lake City Council and my 11 years in the Utah Senate. From there, she argues that the City Council deals with city issues more than the Legislature. That’s fair.
However, I trust voters will consider the full breadth and depth of our experience.
The reality is that both her role on the City Council and my role as a state senator are part-time, legislative positions. I won’t belittle my opponent’s public service as she repeatedly chooses to do mine. However, it’s worth noting the mayor is a full-time, executive position and the role is largely administrative and managerial in nature. So, let’s look beyond our public service and see what’s left to offer.
We both have nonprofit experience, but after that the contrast becomes sharp.
I have a 13-year career as a business executive, managing people and projects. I have served in the executive branch of government as the director of the Utah State Office of Ethic Affairs, administering that organization along with its staff and budget. I’ve also started and grown a small business.
Councilwoman Mendenhall reminds readers that being mayor is “hard work,” noting that a mayor works more than “banker’s hours.” It takes a lot of brass for a part-time official with such little working experience to belittle anyone’s working hours.
Some people enjoy the privilege of choosing whether to work. For the rest of us, economic realities require that we work for a living. I find it concerning that a candidate for mayor has such a cavalier attitude to both mock my work experience and dismiss the benefits that having administrative, executive and managerial experience would bring to the mayor’s office.
Let’s be real. Every day I balance a meaningful career, my legislative duties and the advocacy work I do on behalf of many communities — all while running a small business and raising a family. I know about hard work. This is also the kind of experience that is needed to lead our dynamic and extraordinary city.
I credit Councilwoman Mendenhall’s knowledge of the nuts and bolts of City Hall, but being mayor requires more than just intricate knowledge. It requires leadership and management skills, and the ability to execute a vision for our city.
So, if we want to talk about applicable experience, let’s have an honest and complete conversation.
I must also address how Councilwoman Mendenhall compares her “tough” council vote on the Northwest Quadrant with a Senate vote I was admittedly absent for.
The only reason the Northwest Quadrant vote was “tough” is because she and the City Council painted themselves into a corner without any good options, and then felt compelled to continue the path they laid out. My opposition to the inland port is consistent and clear.
She then distorts a $2 billion bonding reauthorization bill, making it entirely about the $28 million, or 1.3%, allocated for infrastructure in the inland port area. Yes, I was absent from that vote on a must-pass bill to bond hundreds of road and transportation projects across the state. While I don’t appreciate being called a coward, I’m confident that anyone who looks at my record will find plenty of tough votes where I’ve stood up against powerful interests to defend what’s right for those I represent.
So let us make experience the central question of this election. I encourage every voter to compare our accomplishments when choosing Salt Lake City’s next leader.
Luz Escamilla
Utah state Sen. Luz Escamilla is a candidate for Salt Lake City mayor.
