Poll gives Rocky approval of 59%

Critics say Rocky Anderson's very public views on national and international issues misrepresent Utahns — but his constituents are apparently pretty happy.

In the final year of what he has said will be his last term as Salt Lake City's mayor, Anderson has the approval of 59 percent of city residents, according to a new Dan Jones & Associates poll commissioned by the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV.

Thirty-eight percent disapprove.

The poll, conducted this week, gathered the opinions of 413 Salt Lake City residents. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

Anderson's overall approval rating is an improvement over recent years. In May 2006, the mayor's approval was at 52 percent; in September 2005, it was 54 percent. But it's down from his early days in office. In June 2000, less than six months after Anderson took office, his approval rating was 75 percent.

And with the exception of his calls for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, Anderson's constituents largely approve of his burgeoning activism in national politics.

Most popular is his fight against global climate change, of which 67 percent approve — 47 percent strongly — vs. 26 percent who disapprove.

Anderson has tackled global warming on a local level, instituting a number of city policies aimed at reducing the use of energy and fossil fuels. On a larger scale, he has been speaking at environmental conferences worldwide and hosting his second-annual gathering of U.S. mayors at Sundance in November to share ideas on combating climate change.

Salt Lakers also support Anderson's vocal opposition to the war in Iraq, by a 54-percent to 43-percent margin.

In recent years, Anderson has spoken at several local and national protest rallies against Bush's Iraq policies.

Opinions on both sides of Anderson's anti-war activism run strong: 45 percent strongly support it, and 33 percent strongly oppose it.

However, when it comes to the mayor's calls for Congress to impeach Bush and Cheney, only 44 percent of city residents approve. Fifty-four percent disapprove.

Overall, the poll's respondents are sympathetic to Anderson taking on issues beyond the scope of city management. Fifty-six percent said it is appropriate for a sitting mayor of Utah's capital city to be politically active in national and international issues, while 36 percent said it was inappropriate.

As usual, the poll shows Anderson is a polarizing figure along political and religious lines. The mayor's approval among Republicans is 20 percent, with 79 percent disapproving. Democrats like Anderson, to the tune of 87 percent. Only 11 percent of Democrats disapprove.