Buhler formally announced his bid for Salt Lake City mayor Thursday, adding his name to an ever-growing list of candidates. Ten want the job.

"I'll put my qualifications up against anybody," Buhler said. "No other candidate in this race has been more involved in a leadership role in city government and the positive changes we've made during the last seven years."

Buhler made his announcement at the Anderson-Foothill Library in his east-side district. He also held events in the west side's Rose Park area and downtown to highlight the citywide nature of the campaign and projects he has been involved in, including expansion of the Salt Palace.

Buhler is a Republican, and he acknowledged that handicap - the city hasn't had a GOP mayor since the 1970s (although the post officially is nonpartisan). So he emphasized some liberal causes. He noted Salt Lake City is the only Utah government to grant its employees domestic-partner benefits.

The candidate did not point out that the move didn't happen until another mayoral hopeful, Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, tried to persuade the county to do it first.

Buhler also touted the city's open-space bond and said he plans to consolidate the five employees who work on environmental causes under one Office of Sustainability.

Many mayoral candidates are striking similar themes, focusing on education, neighborhoods and downtown.

Buhler vowed that improving schools would top his agenda as mayor. Buhler, an associate commissioner of higher education, said he is creating an education-policy advisory committee and will share concrete proposals later. "We cannot have strong neighborhoods without strong neighborhood schools."

Touching on the city's geographic divide, Buhler pledged to strive for vibrant neighborhoods throughout the city, from Glendale to downtown. "The next few years are going to change downtown forever. We have an enormous responsibility to guide this change in a way that minimizes its impact on our residents and our businesses," he said.

He added the city needs more police officers, better sidewalks and streets and parks - all things the council can fund now.

Among his accomplishments Buhler counts keeping Hogle Zoo in the city, reining in so-called monster homes, funding a new west-side police precinct and adding police officers without raising taxes.

Buhler represented the city in Utah's Legislature as a one-term senator and was elected twice to the City Council. He tried once before to be mayor, running unsuccessfully against Deedee Corradini in 1991. Corradini's then-chief of staff and current city employee, Kay Christensen, now backs Buhler.

The candidate worked for then-Gov. Norm Bangerter, first as a staff assistant and then as Bangerter's Department of Commerce executive director. Bangerter attended the announcement, though he cannot vote for Buhler because he doesn't live in the city.

"He's not a partisan politician," Bangerter said. "He's a problem solver. He always gave me good advice."

Two fellow City Council members also lent their endorsements: west-side Councilmen Carlton Christensen and Van Turner. It means they won't be backing another candidate and colleague, Councilwoman Nancy Saxton. Councilwoman Jill Remington Love also attended Buhler's kickoff but said she won't endorse a candidate until later.

Buhler's decision to run has been the worst-kept secret at City Hall. He said he delayed making an announcement until now, when his term as council chairman is nearly up, to make that job less political.

Other declared mayoral candidates include Utah legislator Ralph Becker, former City Councilman Keith Christensen, former Utah Democratic Party Chairwoman Meghan Holbrook, Centro Civico Mexicano Director John Renteria, University of Utah student Nick Bryson, J.P. Hughes and Arnold Matthew Jones.

hmay@sltrib.com

Dave Buhler

* AGE: 49

* FAMILY: Married, five children.

* CAREER: Associate commissioner of higher education; former assistant to Sen. Orrin Hatch and Gov. Norm Bangerter; former director of the Utah Department of Commerce.

* POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Two-term City Council member; elected council chairman twice; former state senator.