I must say, it's refreshing not only from a newspaper reporter's viewpoint, but from a regular citizen's viewpoint, to see someone stand up to the political power structures sometimes.

Yes, Anderson may not be doing this in a very politically correct fashion, by Utah standards.

Yes, he risks GOP legislators (maybe even some Democrats, too) taking out after the city itself in efforts to harm Anderson.

But at the same time, Anderson is clearly speaking up for some Utahns.

They certainly aren't a majority in the state. On some of his "seven freedoms" issues, they may not even be a majority in the city.

But they are a group, I believe, who have not had a vocal champion for some time.

In any case, Anderson is a smart politician. And he clearly knows he won't win any of these issues in the Legislature. He may not even win some before his own City Council, where he has more influence and power.

But he's also likely having a good time tweaking some Republican noses.

The risk, of course, is that he may anger some petty-minded lawmakers enough that they take out after the city itself. They went after city taxes, after all, over Anderson's support of the Legacy Highway lawsuit. The lawsuit, brought originally by environmentalists, not Anderson, embarrassed some state politicians and cost the state millions of dollars in delayed construction.

And over the past four years, rumors have circulated in Capitol hallways about other ways that Republicans can harm the city and perhaps hurt Anderson politically.

Anderson's 2003 re-election shows me that he or some other moderate/liberal Democrat can win in Salt Lake City as long as they play Republican Mormons against more politically moderate non-Mormons.

That, however, is a dangerous game.

And if played, it takes time to heal those wounds every four years after the mayoral election.

While I think Anderson sincerely believes in his "seven freedoms" campaign, he started his public campaign being more divisive than healing.

Maybe he really can bring about a civil dialogue on issues with which some city residents would like to see movement. Or maybe he'll just strengthen his political base in the city while angering more Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Or maybe the GOP legislators will just ignore him.

In any case, Anderson is back to being the Mayor Rocky many city residents like.

And it looks as if he's having a good time doing it.

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com