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Opinion 
Vote November 8—For the One Vote
Just one vote on the Salt Lake County Commission would have changed the outcome of Jenny Wilson’s attempt to add domestic partner benefits to employees of the county. Just one vote would have given funeral leave and health, life, and dental insurance to domestic partners in long-term relationships. Salt Lake County employs over 6,000 people. How many gay and lesbian employees are struggling with health insurance because we were unable to convince just one person to vote in favor of the proposal?
On November 8, residents of Salt Lake City and other municipalities around the state will go to the polls to elect their representatives. As we reported Oct. 13, several candidates for Salt Lake City Council are in favor of domestic partner benefits for city employees, as well as forcing companies doing business with the city to abide by nondiscriminatory practices in regards to sexual orientation and gender identity. We think that is a huge development.
Voter turnout at municipal races is generally low. It is amazing that those who represent our most basic needs—roads, police and fire departments, economic development—get the least interest at the polls.
This means your vote is at its most powerful.
We invite you to look at three Salt Lake City Council races. If you live in these districts, we are going to ask you to get off the couch or away from the computer and get yourself to your voting place. We also ask you to call your friends in the districts and get them to do the same. If you have the means or time, get out and help these people get elected.
District 1—Northwest Salt Lake, bounded by North Temple and 900 West. Leslie Reynolds-Benns has been a long-time supporter of our community. She is a firecracker and she will work hard on our issues. Vote for her. Walk her district with her. Help her win. Her opponent is one of the staunchest conservatives on the council. Christensen is one of those who rescinded the ordinance that prohibited discrimination “against an otherwise qualified employee or applicant based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability.” Show him we remember and we care.
District 3—Capitol Hill and Avenues, bounded on the west by 900 West and the south by South Temple. Janneke House is young, energetic and extremely well-spoken. Her background is in city planning, open space and she is the interim program manager of the Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks Program. Her opponent, the incumbent Eric Jergensen, while a social moderate, scoffs at Mayor Rocky Anderson’s contention that a healthy gay and lesbian community is needed to create a vibrant and healthy city. He is one of Anderson’s most outspoken detractors and this race is being considered by some to be a shootout between the two.
District 7—Sugar House and Liberty Wells, southeast Salt Lake City below 2100 South and east of 500 East, along with a section below 1700 South between 600 East and 1300 East. Soren Simonsen returned to us easily the most thoughtful, well-articulated responses to the questionnaire we sent all council candidates. His opponent, incumbent Dale Lambert, didn’t bother to respond at all. When asked if he believes Salt Lake City should force those it does business with to protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, Simonsen responded, “I believe that the city should require similar equitable hiring practices from companies it contracts with. My company is a contractor who has provided services to Salt Lake City in the past, and we follow this practice, even though not currently required. Furthermore, I support the development of a policy and ordinance that would allow for domestic partner registry that would allow businesses in Salt Lake City the right to extend benefits to households where they cannot currently. As an employer, I would be among the first such business to extend such benefits to employees who are not presently eligible for benefits to their households.” Wouldn’t he be a great councilmember?
All three of these candidates tout equal treatment and equal benefits as one of their key three issues. How refreshing is that?
QSaltLake heartily endorses these three candidates. Equality Utah has also endorsed these candidates. Take some time out of your Tuesday and vote. Take some time out of your weekend and help them walk their districts. It may well make that one vote difference.
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