A letter penned by the Salt Lake City mayor rebuts recent claims by the county's GOP suggesting that the extension of domestic-partner benefits is an inappropriate attempt to redefine the family.

Anderson argues that equal treatment of employees does nothing to undermine the institution of marriage.

"I have a great deal of respect for those who signed this," Anderson said about the County Council's five Republicans who issued their criticism in writing last week.

"But I think their approach here is dead wrong."

In his response, the mayor says Salt Lake City is determined to be competitive in the labor market. And he insists such benefits can have a positive impact on hiring and retention.

"With so many different kinds of familial and social relationships, we should not provide benefits only to employees whose close, committed relationships fit your idea of what a 'family' should be," he writes.

Anderson points to the University of Utah as a large employer that has offered such benefits "with little notice and no reported problems." And the mayor cites a recent Dan Jones and Associates poll revealing 54 percent of Salt Lake City residents favor the provision of equal benefits.

"He took the high road," County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, a Democrat, said Wednesday.

Wilson, whose attempt in July to offer similar benefits for county employees lost on a 5-4 party-line vote, calls the initial letter drafted by her GOP colleagues "entirely unnecessary."

"I find that beyond our role and inappropriate," she added. "I didn't intend when I introduced this to go beyond Salt Lake County."

County Councilman Cort Ashton, who took the lead in crafting the letter to Anderson, said his prime motivation was to stand up for community values. Had the issue actually been about health benefits, that letter states, "the majority on the County Council might have voted for it."

County Republicans also scolded Anderson for cutting out the City Council and making the decision by executive fiat - a move that now appears headed for a judge.

Says Anderson: "We welcome the opportunity to get a court's determination."

djensen@sltrib.com