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Jackie Biskupski is becoming a full-time candidate for Salt Lake City mayor, announcing Friday that she will take a leave of absence from her administrative position with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office effective Sept. 7.

"The demands of a mayoral campaign are significant. As commitments increase, I find it necessary to take a leave in order to focus solely on the demands of the campaign," she said in a news release.

Biskupski said that will allow those in the sheriff's office "to continue their important work without the potential distraction of my campaign. I am grateful to Sheriff [Jim] Winder for understanding and supporting this decision."

She added, "I am working hard, meeting with residents of the city, business owners, and organizational representatives. Taking this time away from the Sheriff's Office will allow me to focus on this effort, full time."

Biskupski faces two-term incumbent Mayor Ralph Becker. In the city's Aug. 11 primary election, Biskupski won 46 percent of the vote to Becker's 31 percent.