"In the past, James Evans has gone to great lengths to attack me in the most partisan manner, but never did I think he could stoop so low and get it so wrong," Anderson said. "I didn't even refer to James or the Republicans who financed the recent radio campaign against dissent in my written speech but was moved while delivering the speech to make reference to them because of their partisan support of this disastrous presidency. "

But Evans believes it was a "thoughtful and deliberate" effort to single him out.

"The mayor's relation between people of color is patronizing," Evans said. "You have to be compliant, you have to be obedient."

Kirk Jowers, executive director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, said Anderson "does not suffer disagreements lightly," but he said that's true for everyone, regardless of their ethnicity.

"Mayor Anderson has many flaws," Jowers said. "I've never considered racism to be one of them."

Jeanetta Williams, president of the Salt Lake Branch NAACP, said she's worked with Anderson for more than decade, and he has "always been defending us."

While she's never known him to make a derogatory remark toward a person of color, she said, Anderson could have been more sensitive in his choice of words.

Michael Clara, vice chairman of the Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly, said except for the word "slavish," he had no problem with the mayor's remarks.

"The mayor needs to show a little more historic sensitivity," Clara said. "Especially coming from somebody like the mayor who says he's sensitive to everyone and everything. He certainly didn't exercise that kind of sensitivity."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com