He's relatively young, good-looking, religious, athletic, business savvy, and he wants to become the next mayor of Salt Lake City.
But there's something more that will set Molonai T. Hola, 37, apart from the field of mayoral candidates this year — he's Polynesian.
Originally from Tonga, Hola announced earlier this month his intentions to enter the mayor's race in Salt Lake City. If he follows through on those intentions he will become the first Polynesian ever to run for mayor in Salt Lake City. The official filing deadline is Aug. 15.
"I'm looking for support from people in the 25-45 age group," he said. "People who needed a reason to be involved and needed someone to believe in."
Already with 2,000 signatures supporting his campaign, Hola, who immigrated to Salt Lake City as a child, is surprised at the early support and figures he has a shot at winning.
Others agree, including Phil Uipi, the only Polynesian ever elected to the Utah State Legislature.
To win, says Uipi, Hola, the sole Republican in the nonpartisan mayor's race, must gain outstanding support from Polynesians and other minority groups while generating significant interest from the general population.
"He has a very good chance to win," Uipi said. "He has the mentality to win."
If you think the white, east side of Salt Lake City wouldn't support a Polynesian, think again, says Uipi, who won in a district that encompassed Mount Olympus, Millcreek and other upper east-side locales where there are "only like one or two Polynesians."
While support from the broader community will be important, Bill Afeaki, state director of Polynesian Affairs, said that Hola's chances depend on getting the Polynesian community registered to vote.
"The whole Pacific Islander community will rally behind him and support him if he runs for mayor," Afeaki said. "His biggest challenge, though, is going to be having those people in the Pacific Islander community registered as voters."
Hola, former U. student body president, as well as former president of the school's Latter-day Saints Student Association and halfback for the football team, said it's about time younger people, Polynesian or not, become politically active in Salt Lake City.
Hola, who runs an information technology business, expects to spend much less on his campaign than Frank Pignanelli and incumbent Rocky Anderson and has become the only mayoral candidate so far to sign the city's voluntary spending limits law.
E-MAIL: bsnyder@desnews.com