Mayor Dan Snarr and his wife April waged competing campaigns during Murray's July Fourth parade — his to save his 18-inch handlebar mustache, hers to shave it. Judging by thumbs up, about 2/3 of the crowd sided with the mayor. Courtesy Trevor Snarr

For now, Murray Mayor Dan Snarr’s mustache stays

Voting by thumb » Stache fans outnumbered foes about 2:1

By cathy mckitrick

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Jul 05 2012 06:33 pm • Last Updated Oct 30 2012 11:31 pm

Murray’s first lady fought hard during Wednesday’s July Fourth parade to sway public sentiment in favor of trimming her husband’s 18-inch handlebar mustache to a more reasonable length.

Thumbs up from onlookers in the crowd meant "save it," thumbs down meant "shave it."

"It was my one big chance," April Snarr said. Dan Snarr, in his fourth term as Murray’s mayor, contracted laryngitis a few days earlier and she hoped her husband’s lack of vocal power might give her an edge.

However, the larger-than-expected parade turnout appeared to lean about 2-to-1 in favor of the whiskers, she said.

Murray resident Noah Hardman rode in Wednesday’s parade in support of the stache. The 10-year-old masqueraded as the bewhiskered Snarr last Halloween

"I like how long it is, and I think it looks good," Hardman said, wagering that Snarr’s stache could be "the longest in American history."

About three years ago, Snarr chopped the handlebars off his foot-long facial hair to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. At the time, the "Ellen Degeneres Show" expressed interest in him shaving it on the air, but Snarr declined, having promised to do the deed in Murray on a specific day.

After Wednesday’s win, Snarr said he’d make a small concession.

"I’d be willing to trim an inch off each side," Snarr said. "My original goal was 16 inches to represent my 16 years with the city." His fourth and final term as mayor ends in a year and six months.

While not a fan of the eye-poking handlebars that are held horizontal by plenty of gel and hair spray, April Snarr touts her husband’s leadership of the Salt Lake Valley city that about 47,000 people call home.

"I don’t want people to think ill of him when he’s a great mayor," she said. "He’s a lot smarter than he looks — he can’t stand when things are too sullen."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

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