Salt Lake County Council could make history in 2024 election
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The Salt Lake County Council is set to make history with the likely election of its first Latino members and Black woman.
Driving the news: Republican Carlos Moreno and Democrat Ross Romero, who were each leading their races as of Wednesday afternoon, would be the first Latinos elected to represent Utah's most populous county.
- Democrat Natalie Pinkney, the current front-runner vying for one of the county's at-large seats, would be the first Black woman on the council.
The big picture: Latinos account for almost 20% of U.S. adults but only 2% of all elected officials nationwide, limiting their voice in politics.
- Black women make up nearly 8% of the population but less than 5% of officeholders.
Context: Pinkney is currently a South Salt Lake City Council member .
- Moreno is a political asylee from Venezuela.
Between the lines: The lack of ethnic and racial diversity on the county council could have something to do with the short time it's been around.
- The county's council-mayor form of government launched in 2001 after voters in 1998 approved the switch from having just three commissioners.
What they're saying: Our county and the state and the nation is changing demographically. You're going to see more diverse candidates in both parties," Romero, a former state lawmaker told Axios. "It speaks to who we are as a community."
- Often, communities of color aren't encouraged to run for office or think of themselves as future elected officials, Romero noted.
What we're watching: The deadline to certify election results is Nov. 19 and Pinkney and Moreno hold narrow leads.