Salt Lake City Council's final 6-1 tally in favor of a Main Street sky bridge surprised insiders - especially since one yes vote broke a campaign pledge and another bucked long-standing public criticism.
Moments before casting his vote of approval, J.T. Martin reminded a rapt audience that he had campaigned last year on a promise to oppose the sky bridge.
"It's one of those things that you have to admit you didn't understand the issue," he explained.
Equally curious, Martin's nod immediately followed his foreboding that City Creek Center and its sky bridge undoubtedly will impact The Gateway.
Soren Simonsen, an architect and among the skywalk's most demonstrative detractors, also raised eyebrows.
For months, Simonsen grilled designers to provide more "permeability" and bolster the streetscape. On the day of the decision, including minutes before the vote, he repeated his "struggle" with the project. Then, as his turn came, he paused, looked down and leaked out a "yes," drawing gasps from some city staffers.
To be sure, developers for the LDS Church lobbied the council at length in the days preceding the vote.
Still, newcomer Luke Garrott, who said he was surprised by Simonsen's vote, remained steadfast, and consistent, in his opposition. He, too, had campaigned against the bridge.
"They gave up on me early," Garrott smiled as his colleagues congratulated the City Creek team on the other side of the room.
The other yes votes came from Jill Remington Love, Van Turner, Eric Jergensen and Carlton Christensen, with the latter choking back tears as he recalled his father who labored for decades for ZCMI on Main Street.
Presto politics
Sure, a day at Daytona might have spun more high-speed action, but for a City Council meeting, this was pretty fast.
After opening their regular meeting recently at 6:32 p.m., West Valley City Council members adjourned that and a subsequent Redevelopment Agency session by 6:37 p.m.
"Sheri, is that a record?" asked Mayor Dennis Nordfelt as City Recorder Sheri McKendrick gave him a thumbs up.
So why the accelerated agenda?
Well, council members had discussed each item earlier - study sessions usually last the full two hours before the regular meetings - and they were quick with their motions.
Plus, the council chamber was void of its usual audience. No one showed up for the public-comment period, while Scouts, who regularly attend to earn citizenship merit badges, also were absent.
And wouldn't those sometimes fidgety and often bored boys have loved this lesson in speedy civics.
"There are a few Scouts that missed out," Nordfelt said.
Dem delegate shuffle
What do Deedee Corradini, Pete Ashdown, Jim Bradley and Meg Holbrook have in common?
Besides being Democrats, all are pledged to Barack Obama as delegate hopefuls for the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
So, too, is crooner Kurt Bestor, who joins several state lawmakers and one Salt Lake City councilman as wannabes for the 23 slots.
Utah's delegates will be picked at the Dems' state convention May 9-10.
Hillary Clinton's list is significantly shorter, but includes a handful of Democratic insiders. Former party boss Donald Dunn joins Jenny Wilson (plus two of her old campaign aides), Joe Hatch, Ross Romero, Ben McAdams and lobbyist Blaze Wharton in backing the New York senator.
Mayors Peter Corroon and Ralph Becker also are Obama men. And Becker says that, if selected, he will not waver in his support.
"I never break my commitments," the Salt Lake City mayor pledged.
The Beehive State broke overwhelmingly for Obama in the Feb. 5 primary; the Illinois senator captured nearly 60 percent of the vote.
Fast-food politics
Salt Lake County sure knows how to wine and dine foreign dignitaries.
Mayor Peter Corroon treated a recent entourage from Nantou County, Taiwan, to a not-quite-black-tie luncheon - at Crown Burgers, home of the charbroiled pastrami burger.
It's a slice of America (and particularly of Salt Lake City) that Corroon figured his overseas guests might enjoy.
It's "American fare," the mayor explained.
But Crown Burgers wasn't the only unconventional eatery on Corroon's menu. The Democratic mayor also took his guests to the Old Spaghetti Factory.
His Taiwan visitors didn't seem to mind. They still signed a sister-county resolution with Corroon.
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