SALT LAKE CITY – A diverse group of city and state government officials and residents of Salt Lake City City Council, District 5, came to assist Darin Mano in its launch event in front of the Japanese Sage Market on Saturday.
Mano was selected by the city council in January 2020 to serve the remainder of Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s tenure. If he wins this year’s race, Mano will be the first Asian American to be elected to the council.
His supporters said his background in architecture and town planning, as well as his previous experience on the local council, made him the best person to address some of the city’s biggest problems, particularly affordable housing.
“I have a lot of experience with land use and zoning, and that is exactly what the council decides on the future of our land in the city,” said Mano. “This is the expertise I bring to the council and I hope to continue to use this experience to ensure that Salt Lake City becomes the best city in the world.”
Mano said the city’s current policy of subsidizing low-income and affordable housing should be continued, but added that he believed it could help ease the burden on taxpayers.
“I would also like to use my experience with zoning to find out how I can encourage private developers to put affordable housing online without us having to spend a cent,” he said.
Taylor Anderson, a Mano supporter, lives in the Liberty Wells section of District 5, which borders I-15 to 1300 East and 2100 South to 900 South.
“I pay a lot of attention to growth,” said Anderson. “The city is, was and will be number one in terms of housing growth and population growth. That means a lot of new buildings and a lot of density.”
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Anderson added that growth in both the district and the city as a whole will create frictional losses. He agrees that Mano’s architectural and urban planning background makes him the best candidate for the position.
“He could actually look at a piece of paper and say, ‘Here’s what’s good or bad, what should change,'” said Anderson. “He asks questions about this project, so I trust he will ask the right questions that will guide every single project, as well as new regulations, new proposals, new city policies towards a better place, better for the city.”
Mano added that he wants to make city-wide reforms to ensure Salt Lake City is a just and welcoming place for all who call it home. For more information on its campaign platform, please visitinthmano.com.
SLC local elections, which include the city council and mayor, take place in odd years. The term is four years.
Council districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 are up for election in November.
The race for mayors, council districts 2, 4 and 6 will take place in 2023.
However, the seat of District 2 is also available this year. It was vacated by Andrew Johnston after Mendenhall appointed him the new director of homelessness and public relations for the city.
Dennis Faris was selected by the council to occupy Johnston’s seat until January 3, 2022.
Whoever wins District 2 this November will serve the rest from 2022 to 2024.
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