Utah legislator questions Salt Lake City mayoral candidate's role on air quality board as 'political

Utah legislator questions Salt Lake City mayoral candidate's role on air quality board as 'politically motivated'


SALT LAKE CITY — A state senator supporting Sen. Luz Escamilla's campaign for Salt Lake City mayor took what could be seen as a political shot at one of Escamilla's opponents on the Senate floor Wednesday.

However, he said it didn't have anything to do with Escamilla's campaign — but rather concern for Utah's Air Quality Board.

Sen. Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi, who has jokingly described himself as the "token Republican" among Escamilla's supporters, stood up on the Senate floor Wednesday to oppose Gov. Gary Herbert's appointment of Salt Lake City Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall to the state's Air Quality Board — a position she's held since 2014.

Anderegg told his colleagues in general terms that he had "reservations" about Mendenhall's appointment in addition to concerns that there hadn't been a public hearing on the matter. But in an interview with the Deseret News after the Senate's vote, Anderegg said he worried some of Mendenhall's recent actions as chairwoman on the Air Quality Board have been "politically motivated."

Read more: https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900071060/utah-legislator-questions-salt-lake-city-mayoral-candidates-role-on-air-quality-board-as-politically-motivated.html