A new style of Salt Lake mayor to emerge
He's a team player who's eager to work with the City Council, neighboring municipalities and the state Legislature on local, regional and state issues.
He's a likable guy who wants to be mayor.
He's Ralph Becker.
And he's Dave Buhler.
On Tuesday, Salt Lake City voters will choose one of them to take over when Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson leaves office at the end of the year. No matter which candidate is sworn in next year, it will represent a shift from the hard-charging, sometimes combative and often controversial leadership style practiced by Anderson during his eight years in office.
The question about how much — or, more accurately, how little — Becker's or Buhler's administration would resemble Anderson's was one of the questions posed to the candidates in a Deseret Morning News e-mail questionnaire.
The candidates responded to 10 questions on issues facing Salt Lake City, including public safety, downtown development, engaging the city's west side and cleaning up Pioneer Park. Their full answers can be viewed at www.deseretnews.com.
Becker, an 11-year member of the state House of Representatives, said he would bring a "different style" to the job of mayor.
"I am a consensus-builder and a believer in creating and cultivating coalitions when solving the city's problems," he said.
Buhler, a member of the Salt Lake City Council throughout Anderson's mayoral tenure, describes the outgoing mayor as "a divisive figure in our community" and "not an effective executive or manager.
"As mayor, I will go to work every day at City Hall and be focused 100 percent on doing the city's business," he said. "I will work effectively with our City Council and the state Legislature, as well as listen to and be responsive to our residents in every neighborhood. I will use my administrative skills and management experience to ensure that Salt Lake City government operates more effectively and efficiently."
E-mail: jpage@desnews.com
Recent comments
It is like seeing the light at the end of a tunnel.
We will...
Jay, SLC | Nov. 2, 2007 at 11:05 a.m.
Please people of SLC vote for someone that is home grown and was...
Iron Axe | Nov. 2, 2007 at 10:19 a.m.
They both might not be nice, but that doesn't mean they'd...
jaded | Nov. 2, 2007 at 7:49 a.m.
