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Becker wins Salt Lake helm by a landslide

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Stenar | 1:15 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

This is great news for Salt Lake City.

Allen | 5:06 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I work in the construction and development business and I hope Ralf finds a way to fix the process of doing business in Salt Lake City.

SL resident | 6:33 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

"Never fired an employee in 20 years" doesn't sound like a good omen for a city with some disfuntional government departments.

Comments continue below

It's really a shame | 6:53 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

If anyone had a clue about Dave Buhler, the race would have been much, much closer.

The size of Becker's victory says that people care more about stereotypes than candidates.

That is just sad - although, having Rocky out of office is a great thing for everyone.

Question | 7:15 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I'm not in Utah, but have family there so I read this paper often. I know Rocky was a "former member" of the LDS church and this article states Becker is a non member. Does anyone know if he also is a "former member?" I hope not....former members are so much more hostile towards the church....which, like it or not, is a huge presence and influence in SL no matter WHO the mayor is. I think diversity is great, but hostility and animosity....not so much.

Observant | 7:31 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Dave "I had adequate money" clearly doesn't understand why people vote. It's the issues Dave, not the money.

Bob | 7:44 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Congratulations Mayor Becker! Sure you will do a great job and bring a fresh style of cooperation and integrity to your office.

Anonymous | 7:51 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

D-news, "progressive" is not the same as "liberal." If it was we would simply call it that.

Congratulations to the winners.

John | 7:53 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Not excited at all about a mayor who has his campaign party at Squatters....... Here we go again.

Congrats! | 7:54 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

He's going to be a fine mayor.

Gretzky | 7:56 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

The Salt Lake City i knew as a kid visiting from out of state no longer exists except on Temple Square. it's very sad what the liberal progressives have done to the city. it has become a drug ridden, unsafe place to walk at night because of the liberal agenda. very sad city-state of affairs...it's very sad that 57% of the SLC voters did NOT vote. Buhler could have and should have won this race. the residents of SLC are sleeping on the job. SLC represents the state of Utah or at least is supposed to. not so anymore. Rocky has ruined SLC in his efforts to promote himself above the city. what a tragic legacy he has left behind. hopefully Becker will be more useful to the citizens at large in the city and the state and will allow the LDS leaders to help him beautify the city rather than continue the current obstructionist mayoral office role. SLC does NOT need more bars and taverns and more open containers roaming the streets. "Nightlife" leads to immorality and safety issues.

td | 8:32 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

It is great now to know that the biggest qualifying factor to win the mayoral race in SLC is to be non-LDS. Go get 'em SLC. You deserve another embarassment like Rocky.....Maybe Becker will become "Rocky II".

Former Utahn | 8:32 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Just another example of Utahns voting party lines; in this case, SLC residents voting democrat. I'm not saying that Becker was a bad choice for the city, it is just sad that the voting practices of Utahn's are so predictable.

Anonymous | 8:35 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I think 64% of SLC had a clue about Dave Buhler. That's why they didn't vote for him.

george | 8:39 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Good for Salt Lake City-
a progressive is always better than a Conservative!

Christy | 8:40 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Anyone in Salt Lake City unhappy with the election results for mayor who didn't vote has no business whining about the results. 43% of the people voted, which I guess is high but a pathetic commentary on the American public. Where were the other 57% of the registered voters? If you don't care enough to vote then try living in some other country where voting is not an option. My guess is if you did you'd find time to make it to the polls.

gwc | 9:12 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

At least we're rid of Rocky! Let's all hope Mr. Becker focuses on SLC and stays out of national issues.

Generally speaking | 9:24 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Isn't there a conservative candidate that can win as mayor in this city? Generally speaking liberals will want to raise the cost of government or at least increase the level of services the government provides. I want the City out of the social services business. Deliver us streets, water, sewer, police protection, permitting, and fire protection. Stop with all this "livability" baloney (education, housing, etc.). We live in SLC because we like it the way it is. Don't take any more of my dollars (which is believe is substantial) to make someone elses cost of living less or better. This mindset is ludicrous. I earned it, so let me share/spend it how or with whom I please.

We live in one of the most, if not the most, conservative states in the nation. Maybe we need to find a non-Mormon conservative. Maybe that is the problem. The State Party needs to wake up to the cancer of liberalism that is brewing in this state and it is growing exponentially here in SLC.

crich | 9:30 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Dear Dan Jones,

There is no such party as the "Democrat Party." That's a verbal tic one develops from listening to right-wingers like Sean Hannity.

As for Buhler, he ran a much more positive and less nasty campaign during the primary. Maybe people got to know him *too well* during the general election, and that's why he lost so bad?

Observer | 9:37 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Sure seems interesting to me that Utahns (read: Mormons) can be so viciously castigated for voting in a block, yet the enlightened Progressives of Salt Lake haven't elected someone from "the other side" in 37 years! Congratulations on your openmindedness and tolerance.

steve | 9:38 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Im just excited to see a new mayor, being hostile because of being former mormon or not leads me to believe that mormons are hostile to non mormons pre judging because of where a guy has his office or the length of his hair or lack of it. new blood new ideas new hope after all salt lake city would not be here if not for mormons congrats mayor Becker

Maybe the first time in | 9:40 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

history that my son, who worked to put up signs for the Becker campaign could not celebrate with the Becker people because he wasn't 21 and couldn't get in to Squatters. I couldn't care less between the two candidates, but my son found something in Becker that he liked. Its too bad, however, that the candidate decided to, pretty well, disinvite his younger supporters who worked so hard for him, by holding the post-election party in a bar. Pretty pathetic.

Utah Citizen | 9:40 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Whatever you choose to do as mayor of Salt Lake City, please, please, PLEASE, don't be an embarrassment to the state, as the present mayor has been.

James K. | 9:47 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Ralph Becker cares about Salt Lake City. He will be a good mayor. It's not whether he's LDS or holds a party at a bar...geez, folks...grow up and start to understand that we're all on the same team and just need good leadership. Ralph will provide that for ALL citizens.

re: John | 9:47 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Thanks for letting everyone know how close minded you are. Squatters is a great restaurant. Good job on keeping up the sterotype of mormons being judgemental.

It would be great if you could move south to Utah County.

Scott | 9:58 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Come on John! You are judging Mr. Becker on where he held his victory party? You know I'm LDS, I don't drink, but I like the food at Squatters. Ralph Becker is a good man with a sincere desire to do the right thing. He will be a great mayor. Go get 'em Ralph!

Mike Hodge | 10:08 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Liberals would not have needed to restyle them selves "progressives" if conservatives hadn't done such a nasty hatchet job on the term liberal. There is no doubt that there has been a organized effort from conservative leaders to denigrate the term. "Tax and Spend Liberal" for example. I am glad to see that the people of Salt Lake are thinking for themselves and not letting labels control their political choices.

SomeGuy | 10:07 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Just glad to have Rocky out of there! Now, do good things for SLC, Becker!

Buhler Supporter | 10:14 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Politics is so full of labels, and there isn't a darn thing you can do about it.

Ralph failed to mention that he just fired somebody on his staff a few weeks ago.

You need money to get your message out.

TYLER | 10:47 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I frankly know nothing about Becker's politics, but I'm gonna be optimistic! No Rocky SLC is a good one! I hope he has much more integrity than Rocky. I'm so happy Rocky is done in Salt Lake

J.R. | 10:47 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I get a real kick out of members of the LDS church who get all bent out of shape about the "image" projected to the rest of the world by SLC politicians. How about you spend more time worrying about what people who live near you think of Mormons?

There is a reason so many of us in SLC are "hostile" to the LDS Church, its members are friendly until they discover many of us are happy with our own belief system and don't want to change. Suddenly they drop the pretense and all friendliness is gone. Why can't people just be friendly neighbors without having a religious agenda?

Stenar | 10:49 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

In regards to your question, Becker never was Mormon. He's from back east.
Second, all of the Mormon whiners on here are stereotyping a non-Mormon just as much as they claim SLC voters were being against Buhler. Becker was clearly the better candidate regardless of religion. Buhler just wasn't a very interesting candidate. If a Mormon like Simon Sorensen were to run for mayor, he'd stand a very good chance of being elected mayor. And the person who said SLC is now unsafe to walk the streets is retarded. I never feel unsafe in the city at any time of the day or night.

Laurie | 10:57 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I didn't vote for Ralph, but have always found Ralph to be a kind and generous man. I think he will make a wonderful mayor. I have always found Dave and Ralph to be very easy to talk to and certainly good listeners. My best wishes to our new Mayor!

Lindsay | 11:19 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Why is it that everyone who isn't Mormon is clumped into one category in Utah, even on the front page of the newspaper? Ralph Becker is an non-practicing episcopalian, not just a "non-Mormon." Religion shouldn't be an factor when it comes to electing a mayor, unless Mormons are hoping to gain preferential treatment. The issues the candidate supports or fights should determine the outcome in an election.

Saying Buhler lost because he was Mormon sounds like sour grapes to me. Buhler lost because the majority of the voters didn't agree with his political stances. Salt Lake City isn't the place to cry about prejudices against Mormons. Mormons are so concentrated in Utah, they're able to isolate themselves t o the point where some of them rarely interact with people who are different than they are anywhere except work. This is where terms like "non-Mormon" come from. Let's lose these terms. It's the 21st century. If you must categorize us by the ways we are different than you, at least call us "Catholic" or "Atheist" or "Lutheran," but not "non-Mormon."

Dennis Qauid | 11:45 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Any body else think this guy looks like Dennis Qauid?

Blake | 11:52 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Good one Gretzky...you think that Salt Lake is "unsafe" and "drug-ridden." Get a clue...try traveling a bit and you will realize how great Salt Lake City is. (With 36 years of "liberal" leadership none the less.)

It blows my mind that you can imply that liberals want an unsafe, unattractive city. Liberals have children too! They want a great place to live, just disagree about what makes a great place. Quit demonizing everyone that doesnt' agree with you.

As a side note...immorality is subjective. Quit trying to legislate it.

You have got to be kidding | 11:54 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Anyone on here suggesting that Democrats or liberal agendas lead to immoral activities and unsafe atmosphere seriously most be joking. I have lived in Salt Lake my ENTIRE life and I have worked down town for the past five years. I work late at night, I walk around the entire city late at night and I have NEVER had a problem. The positive thing about Becker is that he is looking to change the stereotype that is Utah. This isn't a religious issue, its a quality of life issue, and if Utah and Salt Lake City are to survive we need to attract outsiders in order to progress. I don't believe citizens of Salt Lake City vote party lines, if anything the rest of the state votes party lines and that's why we constantly vote for a republican president, Salt Lake citizens realize what the important issues are such as the vouchers and vote for the person that best represents their interest, they don't vote based on LDS and NON LDS or Liberal V Conservative. This is a great victory for the city.

Episcopal | 11:56 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

To the questioner about Becker's religion: he is a lapsed Episcopalean. He has no history in the LDS Church at all.

Anonymous | 11:59 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I live in the white-washed mundane Utah suburbs and I know whats best for Salt Lake City!

Easy on the definitions | 12:18 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Sorry, Liberalism and Progessive are not synonomous. More like Socialism and Liberalism are closer matches.

following Rocky | 12:26 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Becker will have to get ready for the next "gay pride" parade to follow in Rocky's footsteps and give SLC what they want in a mayor. SLC is composed of alot of wacky, liberal people - just take a ride on TRAX.

slcvoter | 12:26 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I am a progressive Democrat, I am not a Liberal. Congrats on Becker and the new Challege of being Mayor for SLC. We need seperation between church and state and I am sure Becker will work well with the LDS Coporation here in Salt Lake.

Anonymous | 12:41 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Buhler supporter said "you need money to get your message out" -- seriously, there is not much difference between Buhler's $400K and Ralph's $500K that was spent. Ralph was better at talking to the people and getting his message out. All I saw from Buhler were TV ads and billboards. If Buhler would've actaully TALKED about his positions instead of made fun of Rocky ro tried to be the guy that everyone "likes" maybe the race would've been closer.

Stop & Think | 12:45 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

These are silly comments. Salt Lake has elected what by all accounts appears to be a responsible, qualified, and competent leader. Just because Buhler was likewise qualified & competent doesn't mean Salt Lakers should reach accross the aisle in the interest of "open-mindedness". Salt Lake knew who it wanted, and we got it; no different then sending Hatch back to the Senate every six years.

The people speak on election day, and shouldn't the process be praised even when the result is not suited to your own particular taste?

Humbug to D-news for making "progressive" an epithet in both versions of this article.

Utahns need to come to better grips with our political reality; only changing demographics can, over time, alter the policies that we've expected to come from the mayor's office, the Statehouse.

me | 12:48 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Through his leadership of Utah's capitol and largest city, my hope is that Mr. Becker will help mold Utah into a state that our nation DOESN'T lampoon- one where there is at least some semblance of separation between church and state, one with a vibrant arts and cultural scene, one that isn't a leading polluter and energy hog, and one that would attract an intelligent community of visitors and tourists. I think the future is bright. Mr. Becker, the reins are yours- it's time to get it done!

Chip | 1:18 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Congrats, Salt Lake. You have elected as your Mayor the man named the "Least Effective Legislator" not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES!! I don't care if he is Republican or Democrat, Mormon or not--there is nothing political or religious about "being effective". There are other Democrats in the Legislature that quite simply GOT MORE DONE than Rep. Becker did. I gotta give it to you, Salt Lake....YOU KNOW HOW TO CHOOSE EM!!!

Kermit | 1:40 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Mormons in SLC are not against a non-Mormon for mayor but they do want someone who will not be antagonistic toward the LDS leadership. Great things can be done if there is good will and mutual respect.

LMAO!! | 1:44 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

"Buhler, an eight-year member of the City Council from his Sugar House neighborhood, appeared a bit stunned by the size of his loss."

Out of State Observer | 1:57 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Interesting comments on this board. Religion certainly won't indicate if Becker will do a good job for SLC. As is apparent on this board, there are good and bad people of all religions. It appears that SLC is quite polarized around this.

Looking on from the outside it appears that many of those who are not LDS in SLC have quite a bit of bitterness towards the LDS. This surprises me, as I have found my LDS friends to be friendly and hard working. Hopefully you can all work together to make SLC great as I have always found it a great place to visit, despite your driving, with terrific local ski resorts.

Sheesh... | 2:05 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

Becker has been prominent legislator for some time (including minority leader) and is almost universally liked. Buhler has been a solid voice in Utah's Higher Ed community and a voice for moderates in an overwhelmingly liberal city.

Neither one is a bomb thrower and both would work well with the Chamber of Commerce, UofU, LDS Church, minorities, West Side residents, etc.

From the very beginning I hoped that Becker would win because I figured Buhler would probably lose to any combo of Wilson, Becker or Christiansen. But truth be told, if I still lived in SLC proper I probably would have voted Buhler--for some of the same reasons I voted for Corroon as County Mayor (a repudiation of prior leadership and a major change in direction).

That said, where personality is concerned, Becker is even more of an anti-Rocky than Buhler . You can be sure Ralph Becker wonï¿½t be bawling out young staffers or getting into altercations in the parking garage. I think the city is in for some welcome changes. Letï¿½s give the man a chance.

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