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At least they agree the other is a good dad who keeps a nice yard.
Otherwise, Salt Lake City Council combatants J.T. Martin and Charlie Luke sidestepped niceties during a feisty debate this week in which public policy took a back seat to personal barbs.
Luke, according to Martin, is long-serving lobbyist beholden to special interests who could never fairly serve east-bench residents inside City Hall.
And Martin, the challenger countered, berates people with a raging temper, squelches public involvement and lives off his mega-developer father-in-law Kem Gardner.
The exchange at the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics gave new meaning to what Martin jokingly dubs "Fighting District 6."
The candidates wasted little time before belting each other's integrity. Luke pointed to "a lot of stories" chronicling Martin's heated confrontations with residents, which he called "a problem" for a public official. "The best way to stifle public involvement is to have elected officials who, through their actions, try to stifle that type of involvement."
Martin initially took it in stride, saying, "That's fine. I need to smile more.
"My grumpiness has taken on a life of its own, thanks to Mr. Luke, but really I'm not," Martin added. "You can ask anyone but my children."
Later, the first-term incumbent said he couldn't be "that grumpy" because "I have excelled as chair of the council" and have an excellent relationship with legislators "on both sides of the aisle."
"You want a smiley guy or one who gets things done?"
Martin counter-punched some more, saying, "I owe nobody," while charging that Luke is a lobbyist. "We can go through the list," he said. "It's very concerning that we're going to have a paid lobbyist ... what a perfect job for a lobbyist — to be able to sit down arm in arm with people you are representing."
Luke called the shot "a perfect example of J.T. acting in a desperate manner, trying to keep his job." He also said a city attorney has assured him his list of former clients do not pose a conflict of interest.
"Which city attorney? Name the city attorney?" Martin interrupted. "Name him."
"Lynn Pace," Luke said.
"That isn't true," Martin snapped. "You're telling a story."
Pace, in an interview Wednesday, said he had a passing conversation with Luke during the past legislative session during which specific lobbying clients were not discussed. But Pace stressed that "each situation would have to be reviewed on a cases-by-case basis. The attorney's office has not and would not make a blanket statement."
Luke then noted Martin's father-in-law, Gardner, is one of the biggest developers in the state. "J.T. has failed to mention that," he said. "His family money is from development. For him to sit here and say there are absolutely no ethical issues and he has no conflicts of interest is absolutely ridiculous."
Luke acknowledged previously representing Reagan Outdoor Advertising and the now-defunct Metro Waste, but noted his only active client is The Association of Community Services.
"Past clients do not represent a conflict because they are past clients," Luke said. "What he is saying here is that anyone who has worked for any issue in the past is now going to be prohibited from service. That would pretty much exclude everybody except for those who are living off their father-in-law."
"Boy that was a low blow, living off my father-in-law," Martin responded. "Goodness."
The slugfest turned briefly substantive when the candidates were asked about downtown's controversial convention hotel. Martin supports it while Luke would wait for the economy to rebound. Each agreed issuing the demolition permit that led to the derided "Sugar Hole" was a bad move. And while Martin trumpeted east-bench infrastructure upgrades completed on his watch, Luke called for more.
To lighten the debate's intensity, one student asked the opponents to name the other's greatest strength or virtue.
"J.T. is a very passionate individual," Luke managed, leading Martin to respond in kind. "He just seems like a damn fine guy."
Clara endorses old foe Turner
Michael Clara, who has lost three consecutive Salt Lake City Council races to District 2 incumbent Van Turner, has endorsed his frequent foe for the Nov. 8 general election.
"He's the only one who's asked me," Clara said Wednesday. "That's the main reason."
Clara was eliminated in last week's primary, which saw newcomer Kyle LaMalfa capture 40 percent of the west-side vote while Turner snagged 34 percent. Clara, who had criticized Turner's leadership and questioned a lack of street improvements, managed 26 percent.
"I've never seen an election where someone ran against you three times and can stand to even be in the same county as you, much less help you," Turner said. "It's very interesting. He's been a tough, tough competitor."
In east-side District 6, challenger Charlie Luke announced that Tracey Harty, who was narrowly eliminated in last week's primary, has endorsed him.
"That shows that 71 percent of District 6 residents ... are ready for change," he said, referring to J.T. Martin's 29 percent showing.
In a statement, Harty praised Luke for having "the desire to listen to — and work with — all residents' concerns, especially in the case of my neighborhood of Yalecrest."
Derek P. Jensen