Rocky says he is the victim in Seed firing

Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson has named his seventh communications director in less than five years after firing Deeda Seed, a longtime friend and his former chief of staff.

Clifford Lyon, a former executive with a gift wholesale company and a member of the Human Rights Center of Utah governing board, replaces Seed, who Anderson fired Friday apparently for complaining about his management style and in part over how the controversy surrounding his involvement in last week's anti-war protest during President Bush's visit was being handled.

Like some of her predecessors, Seed complained that Anderson doesn't abide dissent or things being stated or represented differently than he thinks they should be. She also said that the mayor often berated her with vulgar language and belittled members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"We have to sit there and listen to him berate us, degrade us, degrade other people. He regularly uses foul and derogatory language with regard to people who disagree with him. . . . He is ineffective and creates a hostile environment," Seed told the Salt Lake Tribune in a story distributed Monday by the Associated Press.

Anderson said Monday he is the victim and that he hired Seed a year and a half ago because he felt sorry that she couldn't find a job. "I felt so badly for her that she was unemployed."

Anderson maintains he's strict, but "I'm also really a softy. Unfortunately, that's what leads to all this. She abused our friendship. Taking the position and not doing a good job."

Monday, Seed's husband said she had the flu and couldn't speak with reporters.

Seed was also quoted saying the mayor privately belittles City Council members and makes fun of Mormons.

As for making fun of Latter-day Saints, Anderson said, "This is so ironic because it's so clearly a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Deeda is a longtime friend of mine who knows why I don't consider myself a member of the LDS Church anymore. She knows not only the theological differences but the differences in terms of certain practices that I have with the LDS Church."

Anderson said it is Seed who often disparages church members while the mayor tells her "we've got to, in our own private conversations, with whomever we speak, we've got to try and be respectful of others. I try to live it."

The mayor said there was one recent incident during a pre-planning meeting for an interview with a Chinese television station where he made an "off the cuff" remark about the differences he has with the LDS religion and other religions.