This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In a lightning round during The Salt Lake Tribune's mayoral debate, moderator Jennifer Napier-Pearce invited the candidates to quiz their opponents.
Thirty seconds each were allotted for the questioner, for answers, and for the questioner to follow up.
The do-it-yourself grilling sparked the evening's only "Do I get a lifeline?" inquiry.
Here's a guide to the questions the candidates asked; watch the video excerpt above to catch the answers.
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George Chapman launched his question without a preamble.
"What would you do to ensure that all of the administrative emails are unzipped and provided to the press without any kind of secrecy?"
During his wrap-up comments, he connected the question to the recent resignation of Salt Lake City police Chief Chris Burbank.
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Ralph Becker • "One of the areas that I've devoted attention to from the time I came into office was to try to promote fairness and justice, social justice, for everyone in our community so they're included and protected. We led with the anti-discrimination ordinance that has now been adopted statewide. We have worked to provide equal opportunity in our schools.
"My question for all of you is, what would you do, differently or in the future, to further promote social justice and equity in our city?"
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Dave Robinson • "If you have $1.5 million in your watershed fund every year, do you choose a) buy property at a really good price and put a conservation easement over it for watershed and open space protection and protecting the backcountry, or do you b) choose litigation, raising the price of land up and then coming to the public and saying, 'I need to charge you more to buy more expensive land?'"
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Luke Garrott • "As candidates for mayor we have contribution limits of $7,500. Recently, one of the candidates on this stage stepped over the line and allowed a corporate PAC to donate independently of her campaign, circumventing the spirit of the law and deflecting responsibility. Ralph is raising a big stink about Jackie and this PAC money when he has raised $275,000 in amounts over $1,000 — that's three-quarters of his contributions coming from big money.
"My question is, don't Salt Lake City residents deserve elections uncorrupted by corporate money and a leader who doesn't have to be forced to do the right thing?"
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Jackie Biskupski • "Salt Lake City is divided now more than ever. The west side of our city does not get the same services. They do not get the same opportunities for economic development. And they do not have the same opportunities for recreation.
"What is your plan to make sure that the west side of our city is treated equally to the east side?"