Three win Salt Lake City Council seats, A6By Jay EvensenDeseret News urban issues editorand Bob Bernick Jr.Deseret News political editor Deedee Corradini tried to joke Tuesday night about the significance of becoming the first woman elected mayor of Salt Lake City.

Her opponent, Dave Buhler, had just called to concede the race, and she had announced her victory to a room full of cheering supporters. Then, looking at her husband, attorney Yan Ross, she said, "It really looks like we made history tonight. For the first time ever, Salt Lake has a `first man.' "But the rest of the nation was paying serious attention to Corradini's decisive victory. Her cellular phone rang constantly Tuesday night. In addition to the locals, such as current Mayor Palmer DePaulis, Gov. Norm Bangerter, Rep. Wayne Owens and industrialist Jon Huntsman, national leaders dialed her number.

She received telephone congratulations from officials with the National Democratic Party and the National Women's Political Caucus. She also received a call from Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kerry, although he didn't succeed in speaking to her person-to-person.

Corradini hopes the publicity helps Salt Lake City's image, which was described by the Washington Post and New York Times recently as that of a male-dominated city. "I do think we are misperceived outside Utah," she said.

The crowd at Corradini's headquarters was upbeat and noisy much of the evening. With the outcome never in doubt from the earliest returns, people talked noisily and crowded around their candidate as she was hustled among cameras from three television stations.

Corradini said she soon will begin thinking about whom to appoint to key positions at city hall. "I frankly haven't had time to think about that," she said. "All my energies have been concentrated on winning."

While the scene was different at Buhler's headquarters, he and his supporters never held any false hopes of victory.

Quiet, polite, gracious in defeat, gone was some of the fight Buhler showed in the campaign's final days.

With longtime supporter and friend Gov. Norm Bangerter at his side much of the evening, Buhler analyzed the race this way: "The right Republican can win the mayor's race. I needed two more weeks, really. Deedee did a very good job on her image, she had the resources before the primary (election) to form an image.

"So many people woke up the day after the primary saying - whoa! - who is this Buhler guy? I had just four weeks to raise money, run a campaign and get myself known, get my image out there. It just wasn't enough time.

"I had the momentum going in (to the final election). I gained 20 points on her in four weeks. That's pretty darn good. I carried some traditionally Democratic areas of the city. I carried Deedee's own voting district. But it wasn't enough."

Buhler will take a week's vacation, then return as executive director of the state Commerce Department - a post he's been on leave from for several months.

View Comments

"I was surprised, really, that I got into this race. I know I surprised some people getting in and how well I did. Many thought I was a bookworm type, working behind the scenes (on Republican campaigns). But I knew what I was. I was a debater in high school. I knew I could carry my own. I've really enjoyed this race. I've grown as a person, and that's good."

Buhler can't see running another race in 1992 - a year that will have numerous opportunities for candidates. "I don't see myself doing it, putting my family through this again."

Still, the race was a good experience all around. "I probably raised and spent between $125,000 and $130,000. I never thought I'd raise that much. I bet Deedee spent twice that much. I'm sure she was on TV more than I was."

Finally, while Buhler was happy with a 43 percent turnout, he was puzzled and a bit disappointed about the media's coverage of the race. "It's strange, but we got more attention (from the media) in the primary than we did in the final election. Part of that was probably the special (legislative) session last week that drew most of the political reporters' attention. I don't know what happened."

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.