Tough Rocky also has a soft side

Anderson explained that the city has dealt with several "very unusual" issues in the span of his four-year mayoral term: the 2002 Winter Games, security issues surrounding the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Elizabeth Smart's disappearance and recovery, the Main Street Plaza fray, The Gateway construction and fallout, the bid to build the Grand Mall on the city's west side and 900 South rail reactivation.

These are major engagements that don't normally happen in one term and have sidetracked Anderson from some of his goals. With many of those issues now behind, Anderson wants a second term to focus on his vision for the city, including redesigning Pioneer Park into a community gathering place and working to define downtown districts for development.

"We had some enormous challenges that took huge amounts of time and energy that now can be devoted to building on to many of our successes," Anderson said.

Those successes include developing the city's after-school YouthCity program, lowering the city's greenhouse gas emissions, passing an administrative order on affirmative action in hiring and Anderson's fruitful lobbying for the University TRAX light-rail line along 400 South.

Anti-Anderson angst

While staffers say privately that Anderson's drive, intensity and demanding style of management is a reason for the early high turnover at City Hall, the mayor now has a loyal, devoted and equally passionate following.

"I developed a really intense appreciation for Rocky right after he was elected when he got involved with the Fourth South light-rail line," notes Alison Weyher, the city's community and economic development director.

The City Council had just voted the University line down, but before taking office, Mayor-elect Anderson held meetings in his home and rallied support for the line, which was eventually finished in time for the 2002 Winter Games.

"That was pretty impressive to watch," Weyher said.

But Anderson's aggressive and sometimes contrary style has rubbed many Utahns the wrong way. And rarely ever has a mayor drawn opposition from all corners of the state.

His opposition to the Legacy Highway in Davis County angered much of northern Utah. When he opposed a Grand Mall, or "sprawl mall," Anderson embittered many on the city's retail-impoverished west side. Moreover, many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which make up 70 percent of Utah's population, were angered at Anderson's initial stand against relinquishing city control of the Main Street Plaza to the LDS Church, following a federal court ruling last year.