U. student wants to run for mayor
24-year-old says other contenders are 'pretty old'
The University of Utah student thinks he's the best man for the job because he's an outsider to local politics, and the city itself, as it turns out. Bryson was born and raised in Holladay, where he still lives in his parents' house. He plans to move to Salt Lake City in order to be eligible for the office.
"I'll be graduating in December, and I figured that I wanted a job and the mayor sounded like a really good one," Bryson said. "All these other people, they're pretty old, and they've been in politics for so long, and they're disconnected from the people."
Bryson, who is a journalism student at the U., does courier work for the Attorney General's Office during the day. His work lets him wear blue jeans, T-shirts and KangaROOS, and it often brings him downtown, which he thinks ought to have a more exciting veneer. But Bryson readily admits that he doesn't know how to spice things up.
"I'm not into business too much," he said. "My friends are interested in helping me out, though."
He believes that his relative anonymity will work in his favor when it comes time to forge relationships with the Utah Legislature and other mayors, something current Mayor Rocky Anderson hasn't been known for.
"They'll know nothing about me," Bryson said. "I'll make a good impression in the beginning."
Candidates must have lived in the city for 12 months prior to the general election, which gives Bryson a Nov. 6 deadline.
If the run for mayor doesn't work out, Bryson hopes to capitalize on his Portuguese language skills as a foreign-media analyst for the CIA. He's got a "naive pop, abstract, absurdist" rock band called the Lollipop Guild with his younger sister, and he has the full support of his father, if not his mother.
"My mom's exact words were, 'Don't embarrass me,' " Bryson said.
E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com
Comments
- Millsap offer: $10.3M up front 4:59 p.m.
- Questions about osteoarthritis 4:43 p.m.
- Logan canal breaks; people missing 3:58 p.m.
- Man's body found 3:47 p.m.
- 'Love advocates' plan 'kiss-in' 3:46 p.m.
- Many-splendored container garden 3:29 p.m.
- California's $26B deficit 3:25 p.m.
- Eat your squash and blossoms 3:21 p.m.
- Searchers shovel seeking giant worm 3:18 p.m.
- Crash kills Arizona woman 3:13 p.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- Logan canal breaks; people missing
- LDS seminary principal arrested
290 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
183 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
143 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
99 - Fairness of BCS debated
83 - Letters: Single-payer system best
76 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
See ya later Paul. Have fun in Portland making way too much money.
wow! i cant believe this! he was a great man and no one expected this. he...
Just another example of the skewed world of professional sports...true...
wow!! he lied to so many!!!!!!
I forgot what I was going to say. Let's go ride bikes!
I have had it up to here......next time I am voting for Prop Hate!
Everyone here blames the victim over the teacher in these cases...regardless...
"friend says..." dang typos.
LDS institutions will not crack down more on this issue...they tend to...
In economic bad times if your neighbor is out of a job, it's a recession. If...


You can be the first to comment on this story.