FILE PHOTO -- Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski (Jacob Wiegand, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski today announced she will not be seeking a 2nd term in office. Biskupski today tweeted that her commitment to family and her role as mayor take priority over that of being a candidate.
“My wife, Betty and I have been faced with a serious and complex family situation,” the mayor wrote. “As parents we have and will always put the needs of our children first.”
Biskupski said she has fought to legally have her family throughout her personal and professional life, and that her family’s situation will require what she called an “all hands on deck” approach.
Biskupski’s full statement was posted to the city government website.
Several other candidates have entered the race, including fellow Democrats Jim Dabakis, businessman David Ibarra, and council member David Garbett.
Dabakis tweeted out admiration for Biskupski after news broke she would not seek re-election. He described her as a trailblazer when she served as Utah’s first openly gay legislator.
Biskupski was expected to speak at a news conference later in the afternoon.