Dave Buhler was packing heat again Thursday, challenging fellow Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Ralph Becker on his commitment to public safety and questioning his position on the $192 million bond for new police and fire facilities.
Standing outside the Pioneer police precinct with former Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse, members of the Salt Lake Police Association and other supporters of his campaign, Buhler compared his governmental accomplishments in public safety to that of Rep. Becker, D-Salt Lake City.
"When it comes to public safety, he's been absent without leave," Buhler said. "It just hasn't been on his radar screen, where it has been a priority of mine, and it will be in the future."
Becker responded in an interview later Thursday by pointing to his background as a former law-enforcement officer, emergency medical technician and firefighter.
"I don't know why (Buhler) would think I don't care about public safety," he said. "I think both my background and my record speaks for itself. I've been supportive as a legislator of public-safety measures and hopefully will continue to be in a position to lead the way in terms of public safety and the entire emergency-response effort for the city as mayor."
Buhler, a member of the Salt Lake City Council for the past eight years, highlighted some of his efforts to improve public safety, including the council's allocation of funds for the Pioneer precinct.
During his time on the City Council, Buhler also has supported the city's take-home car policy for police officers, he said, while increasing public-safety staff by 18 police employees and 10 fire employees without tax increases. He also cited funding for a new west-side fire station and four-man fire engine crews among his achievements.
While in the state Senate, Buhler sponsored five bills related to public safety, three of which were passed into law. Of the bills sponsored by Becker that became law in his 11 years on the hill, none of them relate to public safety, Buhler said.
Then there's the bond, which, if passed by voters Nov. 6, would cover the cost of five public-safety structures at three locations.
"I've been very concerned that on the campaign trail, Mr. Becker so far has refused to take a position on one of the most important issues facing our city residents in November — the public-safety bond," Buhler said. "Real leaders have to take hard positions, take stands and get things done."
Becker said he was baffled by Buhler's characterization of his stance on the bond, calling it "completely inaccurate."
"I have supported that bond from the very first time I've been asked about it," he said. "(Buhler) and I have been on the same forums, we've been asked the same questions (about the bond), and I've always answered them in a supportive way."
Buhler, a Republican, also took a shot at Becker's lack of emphasis on public safety in his "blueprints" for Salt Lake City, saying the only specific public safety issue the Democratic candidate seems to be concerned with is vandalism, calling for the the rapid removal of graffiti.
Becker responded to those allegations with a shot at Buhler's "to-do" lists — promises to which Buhler says voters can hold him accountable if he is elected mayor.
"I'm glad to see that Dave is finally coming up with some ideas for the city with these checklists," he said. "I've been coming up with blueprints since June for the city."
Becker addresses the issue of public safety in his blueprint for neighborhoods and downtown, in which he calls for strengthening police presence in neighborhoods and better support of Neighborhood Watch programs. Becker's blueprint also promises zero tolerance for crime — particularly drug use — in city parks.
Buhler calls his opponent's promises "vague."
"He talks about zero tolerance for drugs in our park — that's already city policy — but he doesn't explain how he's going to deliver on that promise," he said.
In the second of his to-do lists announced Thursday, Buhler promises to add video surveillance equipment to Pioneer Park to deter crime, including the sale and use of illegal drugs. Equipment for the crime cameras would cost less than $100,000, he said, though the details about how the program would work are still being worked out.
Getting the public-safety bond passed and constructing the facilities it calls for tops Buhler's to-do list. He also vows to increase the city's police force by a minimum five new officers per year; assign police officers for each neighborhood; better fund CERT and Neighborhood Watch programs; purchase a fourth 100-foot ladder truck for the fire department; and build a new fire station in southwest Salt Lake City.
E-mail: jpage@desnews.com