Ralph Becker — Taking reins of Utah's capital
Goals: 'We have a very ambitious agenda'
Becker uncovered the document while cleaning off his desk last month and was reminded of its then-troubling contents: A poll conducted about a year ago listed him in fifth place among Salt Lake City mayoral candidates who had been identified at that time, with support from only 4 percent of registered voters.
Seeing the poll again was a rewarding moment for Becker, whose grass-roots campaigning and progressive plans for Salt Lake City ultimately won over 64 percent of voters and earned him a landslide victory on Election Day.
"That was the first poll (for the Salt Lake City mayor's race) that I had seen," Becker said. "It was fun to see that now and realize we really started at a point in this campaign with me not being well known."
Today, he's known as Mayor-elect Becker, an already popular leader who brings to the office the experience of an 11-year member of the Utah House of Representatives and professional planner.
The 55-year-old Washington, D.C., native said he's anxious to begin a new chapter of his career as mayor of Utah's capital city, a role he says "crystallized" as the right job for him about two years ago while he was trying to decide whether to seek a fifth term in the state House.
More than a decade of service as a Democratic member in the Republican-dominated Utah Legislature made the Salt Lake City mayor's job attractive to Becker. Suddenly, instead of being a proponent of public education, the environment and social justice on the level stage, he has an opportunity to advance his ideas on the Salt Lake City stage.
"So many times in the Legislature ... I felt like all I was able to do was to be a voice for those who were underrepresented," he said. "As mayor of this city, which is a progressive city, there's a chance and the opportunity to show the benefits of some of those ideas."
Becker presented several of those ideas during his campaign as "blueprints," which he intends to begin implementing after he's sworn in as Salt Lake City's 34th mayor on Jan. 7.
"We have a very ambitious agenda," he said. "We're going to have a very busy first few years here."
Education
Improving public education was Becker's No. 1 priority during his legislative tenure, and that will continue, he said, in his city administration.
"Public education is probably the most important responsibility we have in providing our children the opportunity to succeed," he said. "It's the greatest source of equalizing our society."
Becker said he began early in his campaign looking for ways city government could improve or positively influence public education. He sought input from school board members, school administrators, educators and parents, and came up with his blueprint for education.
Recent comments
Maybe it should be revenge. The way Republican-LDS treat Democrats...
Anonymous | Dec. 10, 2007 at 11:05 a.m.
Now that the promises are made, I am anxious to watch them closely...
Zed | Dec. 10, 2007 at 12:05 a.m.
Get Real,
Yea you spew your pro coservative slander, thats the...
Progressive | Dec. 9, 2007 at 11:46 p.m.
