Reader comments
Becker wins Salt Lake helm by a landslide

This is great news for Salt Lake City.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Congratulations to the winners.

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

He's going to be a fine mayor.

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.

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".

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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.