Why? Because extending those benefits to domestic partners would devalue husband-wife relationships, he said. Not only that, he added, but "you don't know how long [same-sex unions] are going to last - some last forever, others for months."

The Republican's comments emerged during a KCPW-sponsored debate at Salt Lake City's Main Library on Wednesday as Renckert - trailing 31 points behind Mayor Peter Corroon, a Democrat, according to a Tribune poll - courted voters for the county's top job.

Benefits should extend to the families of all county workers, Corroon countered, no matter how they are defined.

"We support traditional families," he said. "We support nontraditional families. We want to support all of our employees."

That same question - should domestic partners receive the same coverage as traditional families? - remains a wedge issue on the County Council, where Republicans clutch a narrow 5-4 majority.

Democratic Councilwoman Jenny Wilson has twice championed proposals that would extend health benefits to unmarried partners. Both times, the measures have failed along party-line votes.

Renckert shares the GOP's reservations: "Utah is a very family-oriented community. When you look at the alternative, you have to consider whether you are devaluing the traditional family."