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Derek Kitchen, who took on Utah's same-sex-marriage ban and won, will announce his candidacy Tuesday for the Salt Lake City Council District 4 seat.

The 26-year-old capital resident, originally from South Jordan, is the owner and operator of a small business in Salt Lake City. He launched Laziz Foods in 2012. As a resident and business owner, Kitchen said he has a "unique and valuable" understanding of the area.

"I will be a voice for small business and social justice," he said Monday. "A voice for small business at the council level is critical."

His announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Caputo's Market & Deli, 314 W. 300 South.

Although he has never run for public office, Kitchen studied political science at the University of Utah. Among his professors was current District 4 councilman Luke Garrott. In his second term on the council, Garrott is not seeking re-election to the post, but instead is running to unseat Mayor Ralph Becker.

In December 2013, Kitchen and his partner, Moudi Sbeity, along with two lesbian couples, won their suit (Kitchen v. Herbert) in federal court overturning Utah's same-sex marriage ban. At the time, Judge Robert Shelby's ruling made Utah the 18th state to permit same-sex couples to legally marry and was the first of a series of federal court decisions striking down state bans around the country.

"My involvement in this landmark litigation allowed me to become an advocate for equality and fairness in our city and state," he said. "For that I am very grateful."

Kitchen said he also has focused on making his business financially and environmentally sustainable. Laziz Foods produces and sells Moroccan spreads such as hummus, muhammara and toum. The company operates a solar-powered production kitchen and, the candidate points out, Laziz has been recognized as a "Zero Waste" business by the Utah Recycling Alliance for diverting more than 90 percent of its waste from the landfill.

Kitchen describes himself as a progressive who wants to improve District 4 — which roughly stretches from the U. through central city to Interstate 15 — by increasing affordable housing, eliminating drug trafficking and boosting economic development.

He also wants to tackle transit — a perennial challenge at City Hall.

"District 4 needs a progressive and creative decision-maker to advocate for smart planning to handle increased density, air quality, transportation and education for our residents," he said.

He lauded the Pioneer Park Coalition for leading out on seeking solutions for the troubled Rio Grande neighborhood. "It's a good thing when developers, residents and others self-organize to bring vision."

The coalition's stated goal is to make the neighborhood better for everyone, and it has pushed an evaluation of homeless services.

Kitchen urged patience for the mayor's commission as it takes on that task.

"As a city councilman," he said, "I will work to be a bridge builder for city government with developers, business leaders and community members."