Rocky also claims that I shouldn't be mayor because of my affiliations. He has argued in public and private for years that I cannot be "progressive" enough because I am a Republican, not to mention a member of the LDS Church.

I say we let the Rocky era in Salt Lake City politics fade into the sunset and usher in a new era of civility and respect. Let's let individual families decide what's best for them. And let's let voters decide who is the most qualified person for the job without throwing around labels and stereotypes.

For the past eight years, I've served on the City Council while also working a full-time job. That's meant a lot of long nights and busy weekends. But it's no more difficult than what many families face as they juggle work, family, and community service.

It's not for Rocky Anderson to look at Jenny's family, my family, or anyone else's and make judgments about how we decide to live our lives. Rocky's recent statements about Jenny's family (Rebecca Walsh column, Tribune, July 12) are reminiscent of other statements he's made about me throughout our time together in city government.

Instead of letting policy and experience count, Rocky has continually bashed me and my City Council colleagues through the years, and now as I am a mayoral candidate, because of my faith and my political affiliation. He's used these stereotypes and generalizations to support his claim that if I were elected, I would reverse all of the progress he's championed during his term. That is hogwash.

I can count on one hand the major issues on which I've voted against Mayor Anderson in eight years. It's just that when we, the council, decide to be deliberative, as we should be, and consider all of our options, Rocky thinks that we are somehow against him. The truth is that I have consistently reflected the forward-thinking nature of Salt Lake City's populace.

I figure that if a Republican can lead the most liberal state in the country (California), there's no reason a reasonable (and even LDS) mayor can't lead Salt Lake City. Sure, it will take us all looking beyond the surface. But I have confidence that the voters of Salt Lake City are more than capable of that task.

No one can doubt Mayor Anderson's passion for what he believes in or the long hours he puts in for the sake of our city. But generalizing about moms or Mormons is just plain wrong. Let's all agree to put aside generalizations and stereotypes in this campaign and let the voters decide who is best qualified to be the next mayor of Salt Lake City.

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* DAVE BUHLER is a Salt Lake City Council member and the associate commissioner for public affairs at the Utah Office of Higher Education. He is running for mayor.