SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Outgoing Utah state Sen. Jim Dabakis will challenge incumbent Salt Lake City mayor Jackie Biskupski in next year’s election.
Dabakis announced his candidacy Tuesday with a Facebook video in which he said a mayor should be a great city ambassador, know how to run a major operation and have a long-term vision.
Dabakis briefly ran for mayor in 2015 before bowing out and endorsing Biskupski. She became the city’s first openly gay mayor when she unseated incumbent Ralph Becker.
Dabakis, a Democrat, was the state’s only openly gay lawmaker.
He is the third challenger to join the race, following businessman David Ibarra and city councilman Stan Penfold.
Dabakis is well-known for being outspoken and entertaining. He recently drove to Las Vegas to try marijuana for the first time to bring attention to a medical marijuana ballot measure.