Salt Lake mayoral candidate Frank Pignanelli wanted to stage a night on the town suitable for all residents. So on Friday, he spent the late afternoon and early evening at four family-oriented Salt Lake City gathering places.
His night on the town was meant to contrast a similar event by Mayor Rocky Anderson, who visited nightspots that served liquor on May 10.
"Night life is important, but it's only a small piece of the pie," Pignanelli said. "There are other reasons to come to Salt Lake City."
Pignanelli said while the bars on Anderson's nighttime tour had age restrictions that kept the young and perhaps some non-drinkers away, his events were attended by people representing a wide spectrum of ages. For example at Guadalupe Park, 619 W. 500 North, about two dozen showed up, ranging from young children to seniors and those in between.
His tour started at Red Butte Gardens with a nature walk.
"It's a great place," he said.
"One of the local treasures."
Following Guadalupe, the night on the town moved to the Gallivan Center Pasta on the Plaza, for an hour, where a concert had already attracted a large crowd. The last hour or so was spent a few blocks away at the Salt Lake Roasting Company.
Guadalupe was Pignanelli's favorite spot because it is not only located in his neighborhood, but it "typifies the great parks we have" and shows the importance of parks in community life.
"Rich and poor, people are all the same in parks," he said.
His own children were happy to frolic on the playground, while others enjoyed some food, drinks and conversation.
"This park needs some help," he admitted. Built in 1987, the park could use some updated playground equipment.
Still, what Pignanelli is proud of too is a sculpture of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the center of the park.
"Here's this Catholic saint in the heart of Salt Lake," he said, noting that this small park is probably unknown to the vast majority of Salt Lake residents.
Pignanelli, who is Catholic, said his wife is Mormon.
"My family is a microcosm of diversity," he said. One of his children is named Andrew after one of his wife's ancestors who came to Utah in a handcart company. Another son, Anthony, is named after Pignanelli's grandfather who lived in Italy.
Pignanelli asserts that Anderson's style has polarized people, and he said that's not good for Salt Lake City because it causes divisions among people. Salt Lake City, according to Pignanelli, is one place where such divisiveness is especially bad.
He said he believes his campaign has a wide spectrum of support and he will consider doing similar family-style events in the future.
Friday's hot temperatures may have kept some people away but not John Florez, who attended the park gathering. He supports Pignanelli, not because he grew up in Florez' neighborhood but because Florez said Pignanelli wants to bring the community together.
"This is a city of values and not of conflict," he said.
Pignanelli is a University of Utah graduate and a local attorney. He's also a Democrat who served five terms in the Utah House of Representatives from 1986 to 1996, acting both as minority whip and minority leader.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com