SALT LAKE CITY – He walked away from politics a few years ago after serving as mayor of West Valley City. Now, Mike Winder says he’s ready to jump back into the fray.
Winder took a time out from politics in 2013 after serving one term as mayor of West Valley City and a failed attempt to win the Republican nomination for Salt Lake County Mayor. Now, he’s ready to come back. This time, he’d like to represent West Valley City on Capitol Hill.
“There’s a real need right now to have a louder voice, stronger voice for West Valley City,” Winder said.
The House District 30 candidate is taking on Republican incumbent Fred Cox.
Winder worries Cox won’t be able to hang onto the swing seat.
“Fred squeaked by with 47 votes last year and historically, on Presidential election years, we see a higher turnout of Independents and Democrats, and I think I’d be the stronger Republican candidate to keep this seat red,” Winder said.
Rep. Cox fired back saying as an incumbent, he has name recognition, even if he is going up against a “Winder.”
“He didn’t win the last time he ran against another incumbent. Even in areas of West Valley, there were areas he didn’t win,” Cox said.
Winder lost points with the public when he admitted to writing positive articles about West Valley City for a newspaper, under the pen name, Richard Burwash.
“I’ll never do that again, and we’re moving forward,” he said.
But will his opponent try to score political points over the scandal?
“I’m not going to slam him or make fun of him or tear him down. Voters should decide based on what they’re going to do,” Cox said.
It’s still early in the process. Winder is knocking on doors now, trying to raise campaign dollars. He’ll start gathering signatures in January.
The magic number he needs is 1,000. From there, he’ll have to make it through a convention, and eventually the primary in June.
