FILE: Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall speaks in Salt Lake City on December 20, 2022. Mendenhall announced Wednesday she will run for reelection this fall (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Erin Mendenhall is seeking a second term.
The Salt Lake City mayor made her official announcement Wednesday morning through a 2-minute video posted online. The video centers on her accomplishments since taking office in 2020, guiding the city through its COVID-19 pandemic response, as well as the damaging earthquakes and windstorm that year.
She also touts the city’s spike in affordable housing funding since she took office in addition to the city’s push to build new parks and move forward with renewable energy — efforts that have expanded over the past three years. It also highlights some of the unachieved goals, such as solving Utah homelessness issues that she says she will continue to work on moving forward.
“I’m running for reelection because our work isn’t finished and we need proven leadership to see it through,” she said. “The incredible future we’re building together isn’t guaranteed and it isn’t going to be easy. I’m determined that the city grows for all of us, to bury the walls that divide us, to lead with compassion, to promote equity and to defend equality. … And I refuse to let anyone take our city backward.”
The mayor joins a field that currently consists of former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and community activist Michael Valentine. Public city records show there are a few other people with active mayoral finance committees; however, those accounts have not reported any recent activity.
The field could also grow as the deadline for candidates to apply is in August, while Sept. 4 is the last day for anyone to qualify as a write-in candidate.