Rocky Anderson

Rocky Anderson

Infobox Officeholder
name = Rocky Anderson


caption =
order = Mayor of Salt Lake City
term_start = 2000
term_end = 2008
predecessor = Deedee Corradini
successor = Ralph Becker
birth_date = Birth date and age|1951|9|9|mf=y
birth_place = Logan, Utah
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =
party = Democratic
spouse = Divorced
profession = President - High Road for Human Rights
religion =


footnotes =

Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson (born September 9, 1951) is the former mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah. Currently the President of High Road for Human Rights [http://www.highroadforhumanrights.org High Road Web Site]

Life before election as Mayor

Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson was born in Logan, Utah and graduated from Ogden High School. He received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Utah [ [http://www.voterocky.com/about-college.html Official Campaign Biography] ] and graduated in 1978 with a J.D. degree from The George Washington University Law School. [Freedman, Jamie. [http://www.gwu.edu/~magazine/archive/2004_law_summer/docs/feat_utah.html] "GW Law's Utah Connection," "GW Magazine", Summer 2004. Accessed October 10, 2006.]

Anderson practiced law for twenty-one years in Salt Lake City, specializing in civil litigation. He was lead attorney in several civil rights and consumer protection cases, including "Bott v. Deland" and "Bradford v. Moench", and filed an amicus brief in "University of Utah Students Against Apartheid v. Peterson". Anderson also helped spearhead reform of Utah’s child custody laws. He worked to institute a program to help those who do not qualify for assistance through Legal Aid or Legal Services, but who are unable to afford to pay a full fee for legal representation. Anderson served as Chair of the Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar Association and as President of Anderson and Karrenberg, a Salt Lake City law firm.

During this time, he was affiliated with the ACLU, [cite news | first = Dan | last = Baum | author = | coauthors =| url = http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread7563.shtml | title = Salt Lake City Drops D.A.R.E. | publisher = Rolling Stone | date = 23 November, 2000 | accessdate =|language = ] and volunteered as a board member of several community-based, non-profit organizations, including Common Cause, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, and Guadalupe Schools. On behalf of Common Cause, Anderson lobbied for stronger legislation pertaining to ethical conduct by elected officials and for campaign finance reform. Anderson also founded and served as President of Citizens for Penal Reform.

He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1996, but received 55% of Salt Lake City's vote in that race."The Nation", "Progressive City Leaders".] His Republican opponent, Merrill Cook, made Anderson's support of gay marriage the focus of his campaign in that race.Fact|date=January 2008

Mayor of Salt Lake City

Anderson was first elected as mayor in 1999 and was reelected for a second four-year term in 2003. Although the office of mayor in Salt Lake City is nonpartisan, Anderson is a registered Democrat, and much of his platform is that of a liberal Democrat. While Utah generally votes Republican in statewide and national elections, Salt Lake City is primarily Democratic in party allegiance. [ [http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4182575 Salt Lake City Tribune] article protesting President Bush's visit by Thomas Burr and Heather May, August 15, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2006.]

Anderson has gained international renown for his Salt Lake City Green Program, [ [http://www.slcgreen.com/about.htm Salt Lake City Green Program] , official site. Accessed 28 September 2006.] a comprehensive effort to improve the sustainability and reduce the environmental footprint of Salt Lake City’s municipal operations. Elements of the program, which is said to “cover everything from dog waste to nuclear waste,” include initiatives to improve the efficiency of the City’s fleet and use of electricity, measures to make Salt Lake City more bicycle-friendly and pedestrian-friendly, and cogeneration plants at the City’s landfill and wastewater treatment facility that recapture methane to generate electricity.

As part of the Salt Lake City Green program, Anderson committed Salt Lake City to the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. Last year, the City surpassed its Kyoto goals, seven years ahead of schedule. In 2003, Anderson received the Climate Protection Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Sierra Club acknowledged his environmental work with its Distinguished Service Award. In November 2005, the Salt Lake City Green program garnered Salt Lake City the World Leadership Award, presented by the World Leadership Forum, for the Environment.

Anderson is a proponent of transit-oriented urban housing and walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that do not perpetuate dependence on the automobile or further sprawl development.Fact|date=January 2008

Anderson is an ardent opponent of tobacco use and has supported legislative measures limiting smoking. In contrast, he is also one of the most outspoken public critics of Utah's strict liquor laws. (State law permits the sale of liquor only in restaurants, private clubs, and state-run liquor stores. The majority of bars in Utah function as private clubs with membership fees, and the number of bars on a block face is limited by City ordinance.)

Anderson has advocated for the interests of minority communities in Salt Lake City. In December 2001, state and federal officials organized a raid at the Salt Lake City Airport that selectively enforced immigration laws against undocumented employees, who were arrested, imprisoned, and lost their jobs. In response, Anderson created the Family to Family program, which made it possible for Salt Lake City families to provide direct emotional and financial assistance to the airport workers and their families. Additionally, the Mayor spearheaded a challenge to English-only legislation in Utah in 2000, and in 2006 spoke at two large demonstrations for comprehensive immigration reform.

Anderson received the League of United Latin American Citizens’s first-ever “Profile in Courage” award, as well as the National Association of Hispanic Publications’ Presidential Award, in 2006.

Anderson signed an executive order in 2000 implementing a full-fledged affirmative action program in City hiring. This program has led to historic levels of ethnic minority hiring and retention in City government. The City employs 34% more ethnic minorities compared to 1999, with a 90% increase in members of the ethnic minority community holding executive and administrative positions. Members of the minority community comprise more than one-third of his staff and more than one-third of his nominations to City boards and commissions, while comprising only 18% of city population.

Anderson also signed executive orders that extend benefits to domestic partners of City employees, and ban discrimination against City employees on the basis of race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation. Critics have contrasted these orders with the affirmative action hiring practices of his offices. Anderson co-convened the Alliance for Unity, a non-partisan group of religious and community leaders working to build bridges between people throughout Utah.

Anderson assisted Mitt Romney as he led Salt Lake City through the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Mayor Anderson handed off the Olympic flag at the closing ceremonies. He endorsed Romney's subsequent 2002 gubernatorial bid in Massachusetts. [cite web| url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suc3nlHT51Y&feature=related| title=Romney for Governor of Massachusetts TV Ad - "Rocky"] Romney later endorsed his 2003 mayoral re-election campaign. [cite web| url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuFe9_BCvXY| title=Mitt Romney endorses Rocky Anderson - 2003] The two remain close friends, though Anderson has criticized Romney's recent changes in position.Fact|date=January 2008

Anderson founded the Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival, now in its seventh year.Fact|date=January 2008 He has also pushed for better security at the nation's airports, overseeing Salt Lake City International Airport's effort to become the first in the nation to screen all checked baggage.Fact|date=January 2008

He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, [cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members] a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

On July 28, 2006, Anderson announced he would not pursue a third term as mayor. He said he wishes to organize communities to "make more noise" by advocating and organizing on human rights and climate-change issues. [ [http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_4111071 No Rocky III] , "Salt Lake Tribune"] [ [http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_4113705 Rocky: Ups, downs, and why it's time] , "Salt Lake Tribune"] Anderson publicly endorsed City Councilman Keith Christensen in the 2007 mayoral race. In spite of Anderson's popularity, Christensen was soundly defeated in the primary election. [ [http://www.sltrib.com/ci_6868981 Salt Lake Tribune - SLC mayoral contest: It's down to Becker and Buhler ] ]

Anderson's approach to public policy strongly exemplifies the American liberal tradition, notable in the state that in the 2004 presidential election gave George W. Bush his greatest percentage of the vote of any state in the Union.

Anderson makes occasional posts at Daily Kos. [ [http://mayor-rocky-anderson.dailykos.com/ Daily Kos :: Diaries ] ]

Controversy

In 2000, Anderson asked the Salt Lake City Police Department to end its participation in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. He told DARE officials: "I think your organization has been an absolute fraud on the people of this country... For you to continue taking precious drug-prevention dollars when we have such a serious and, in some instances, growing addiction problem is unconscionable." [cite news | last = Vanderpool | first = Time | title = Truth or D.A.R.E.? | publisher = Tucson Weekly | date = February 26 2004 | url = http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/currents/Content?oid=oid:53955|accessmonthday = December 12 | accessyear = 2005 ]

Critics charged Anderson with being insufficiently opposed to teen drug use and with failing to propose any alternatives. In fact, Anderson introduced the ATLAS Program to the Salt Lake City School Board, which voted to implement the program. [May, Heather. [http://www.lexis.com/research/retrieve?_m=49fb763cba5dab9c0c24de70d8c5d38a&docnum=4&_fmtstr=FULL&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVlz-zSkAB&_md5=ec1069a14c19d4e715f593940e8ffb38 "Prep Athlete Use Of Drugs Declines; SLC school board credits ATLAS program] ," "The Salt Lake Tribune", March 7, 2002.] Anderson also created the Mayor’s Coalition on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs, and has advocated for the implementation of proven drug prevention, treatment, and harm-reduction programs. In 2005, the Drug Policy Alliance presented him with its Richard J. Dennis Drugpeace Award.

In August 2005, Anderson violated Salt Lake City policy when he used $633.74 in public funds to purchase meals and alcoholic beverages on two occasions for musicians who performed at the Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival and for visiting mayors from throughout the country. A local newspaper published four consecutive front-page articles to the story, and portrayed the purchases as "bar tabs."Fact|date=January 2008

When interviewed in September 2005 by the "Deseret Morning News", Anderson stated that he disagreed with the policy, that providing hospitality to out-of-town visitors is an important mayoral function, and that exceptions to the policy had been made previously. [ [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,615153604,00.html Deseret Morning News | Rocky's bar tab paid by the city ] ] The policy was subsequently changed to allow appropriate purchases of food and alcohol when entertaining out-of-town guests. Mayor Anderson reimbursed the City with his private funds for expenditures incurred while entertaining visiting mayors. [ [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,615153803,00.html Deseret Morning News | Rocky to jettison alcohol policy ] ]

The "Deseret Morning News" soon created more controversy with its coverage of an interview Anderson gave to "The Guardian" newspaper in London. Leading with the headline, “LDS Church Not Taliban, Rocky says,” the paper implied that Anderson had compared life in Utah to life under the Taliban. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1583651,00.html Gary Younge: If progressives can win in Utah, they can win anywhere | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited ] ] Anderson emphasized that the comment, intended to be light-hearted, was not directed toward the state or its residents, nor toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rather, he said, the comment was directed toward local media, particularly the "Deseret Morning News", who had originally characterized his alcohol and food purchases at a local restaurant as "bar tabs," and which had run articles about the fact that a Salt Lake City Reads Together book selection contained profanity. Jeremiads soon appeared on the editorial pages of the "Deseret Morning News" and other Utah newspapers. Anderson singled out the "Deseret Morning News" and other media outlets for deceptive, biased reporting in a statementhttp://slcgov.com/mayor/Patrick/SPdailychronicle32706.pdf] about the publication and in a speech on media ethics to an annual banquet of the "Daily Utah Chronicle".

In October 2005, local politicians accused Anderson of improper spending of public money. This time the issue was travel to Italy related to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. [ [http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3091227 Salt Lake Tribune - GOP chairman calls for an investigation of Rocky's spending ] ] Anderson responded that the trip to Turin was to continue the longstanding Olympic tradition of delivering the Olympic message and did not cost Utah taxpayers any money. The Salt Lake City District Attorney cleared Anderson of any wrongdoing in the case.

On June 12, 2007, following a meeting in a City Council workroom, Anderson was involved in a physical and verbal confrontation with downtown real-estate developer Dell Loy Hansen. After challenging Anderson to speak to him, Hansen reportedly knocked Anderson off-balance. Anderson responded by threatening to "kick [Hansen's] ass." [cite news | last = Jensen | first = Derek P | title = Rocky, downtown developer in City Hall fracas that nearly comes to blows | publisher = Salt Lake Tribune | date = June 13 2007 | url = http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6127662 | accessmonthday = June 19 | accessyear = 2007 ] On June 18, a spokesman for Anderson indicated that the possibility of legal action against Hansen was being explored. [cite news | last = Jensen | first = Derek P | title = Rocky may yet fight Hansen…in court | publisher = Salt Lake Tribune | date = June 19 2007 | url = http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6127662 | accessmonthday = June 19 | accessyear = 2007 ] It has since been determined that no charges will be filed. [cite news | last = Smeath | first = Doug | title = No charges in Rocky-Hansen spat | publisher = Deseret Morning News| date = June 28 2007 | url = http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680194563,00.html | accessmonthday = June 28 | accessyear = 2007 ]

Criticism of Bush administration

Anderson attracted praise and scorn in August 2005 when, after accepting an invitation from the Veterans of Foreign Wars to participate in a visit by President Bush, he sent an e-mail to local advocacy leaders calling for "the biggest demonstration [Utah] has ever seen" to protest Bush's appearance at Veterans of Foreign Wars' National Convention at the Salt Palace. [cite news | last = Warchol | first = Glen | title = Rocky's call to protest Bush makes vets see red | publisher = The Salt Lake Tribune | date = August 20, 2005 | url = http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2958368 | accessmonthday = August 20 | accessyear = 2005 ] [cite news | last = Bernick | first = Bob, Jr. | coauthors = Roche, Lisa Riley | title = Rocky calls for Bush protest | publisher = Deseret Morning News | date = August 20, 2005 | url = http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600157220,00.html | accessmonthday = August 7 | accessyear = 2006 ] Speaking to a rally at Pioneer Park in downtown Salt Lake City, Anderson justified his protest against Bush, asserting that the "nation was lied into a war". [cite press release | publisher=Salt Lake City's Mayor Office|date=August 22 2005 | url=http://www.slcgov.com/mayor/audio/SpeechAug22.pdf | format=PDF | title=Remarks by Mayor Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson | accessmonthday = August | accessyear 2006 ]

Amidst this and other criticism, Anderson spoke at a protest against the Bush administration and Congress on August 30, 2006. His speech was animated, characterizing the war in Iraq as "illegal and immoral". [Anderson, Rocky. [http://slcgov.com/mayor/speeches/2006%20speeches/SPdemonstration83006.pdf "Speech on the occasion of President Bush's visit to Salt Lake City"] . Retrieved September 26, 2006.]

Approximately 4,000 people attended the protest, including numerous veterans. Throughout his speech Anderson stated that a true patriot can question government actions while still supporting America's troops, asserting, "Blind faith in bad leaders is not patriotism." After the anti-war rally where Anderson gave his speech, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff led a pro-war rally and responded to Anderson, accusing him of being "disrespectful" and "stupid" for speaking out on a war when a soldier from his city was being buried the same day. [ [http://www.abc4.com/local_news/local_headlines/story.aspx?content_id=42B898EC-29A9-41E3-BFED-96D625EEBE06] Rocky Anderson leads protest opposing Bush; Shurtleff calls Mayor "disrespectful"] [ [http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4265337] Salt Lake sounds off in protest and support] Meanwhile, publications and pundits have called his speech "outstanding", [ [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-geiger/slc-mayor-rocky-anderson_b_28450.html Bob Geiger: SLC Mayor Rocky Anderson: A Righteous Dude in a Wrong State - Politics on The Huffington Post ] ] "refreshing", [ [http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2006/08/mayor_rocky_and.html onegoodmove: Mayor Rocky Anderson on Bush and Patriotism ] ] and "orders of magnitude more powerful than any critique of Bush I've seen by an elected political figure." [Abramsky, Sasha. [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060918/abramsky Rocky Anderson, Folk Hero?] , "The Nation", September 1, 2006]

On March 19, 2007, during an anti-war rally for the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq, and afterwards on CNN, Anderson stated that he believes that George Bush should be impeached, saying: "This president, by engaging in such incredible abuses of power, breaches of trust with both the Congress and the American people, and misleading us into this tragic and unbelievable war, the violation of treaties, other international law, our constitution, our own domestic laws, and then his role in heinous human rights abuses; I think all of that together calls for impeachment". [ [http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_Salt_Lake_City_Mayor_calls_0319.html The Raw Story | Video: Salt Lake City Mayor calls for Bush impeachment ] ]

On March 20, 2007 Rocky Anderson appeared on the O'Reilly Factor with host Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly asked Anderson about his public speech on the impeachment of President Bush. O'Reilly called the call for impeachment "kooky" and the two debated the legitimacies of one another when it came to knowledge of constitutional issues and impeachment requirements. Anderson ended the interview by saying O'Reilly was "really something."

Recently, at another anti-war rally on April 25, 2008, Anderson and other prominent anti-war figures, including the leaker of the Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg, furthered their calls for impeachment of the President. Their statements came a day after Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives calling for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.

On July 25, 2008, Anderson was a witness testifying before the House Judiciary Committee at a hearing entitled "Executive Power and its Limitations," chaired by Rep. John Conyers of Michigan. This hearing was convened in response to Rep. Kucinich's resolution calling for the impeachment of the president.

ee also

Notes

* http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6153683903005498978&hl=en

References

* [http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/salt_lake_city_mayor.html City Mayors profile of Rocky Anderson, published January 2007]
* (unsigned article), "Progressive City Leaders", "The Nation", June 18, 2005, p.18-19.
* [http://www.voterocky.com Extensive bio from 2003 reelection campaign website] . Retrieved September 26, 2006.
* [http://www.slcgov.com/mayor/bio.htm Official Mayor's office bio] retrieved October 2004
*Brady Snyder, [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,515033969,00.html Tough Rocky also has a soft side] "Deseret News", September 24, 2003. Article about the 2003 mayoral race retrieved October 2004
*Erin Stewart and Kersten Swinyard, [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,605154239,00.html Are Rocky's methods hurting city business?] . "Deseret News", September 13, 2005. Retrieved September 2005
*Brady Snyder, [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,615153604,00.html Rocky's bar tab paid by the city] , "Deseret Morning News", September 28, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
*"Deseret Morning News" editorial board, [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,615155635,00.html Rocky and the Taliban] , "Deseret Morning News", October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
*"Ogden Standard-Examiner" editorial board, [http://www2.standard.net/standard/opinion/63922/ Rocky vs. the Taliban] , "Ogden Standard-Examiner", October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
*Heather May, [http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3091227 GOP chairman calls for an investigation of Rocky's spending] , "Salt Lake Tribune", October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
* [http://kutv.com/video/?id=18850@kutv.dayport.com Anti-war protest speech] (video as recorded by CBS) by Rocky Anderson given on August 30, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2006.
* [http://oneutah.org/oneutah-filez/authors/ra/Aug30-06speech.pdf Text of August 30, 2006 Speech (pdf)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Rocky Anderson — Ross C. Rocky Anderson (né en 1951) est l ancien maire de la ville de Salt Lake City dans l état américain et conservateur de l Utah alors qu il se situe nettement plus à gauche que la plupart de ses homologues de la côte Est ou de Californie.… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Rocky (disambiguation) — Rocky is a 1976 film starring Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, a no name boxer from Philadelphia. People named Rocky * Rocky Anderson, current mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah * Rocky Bridges, former major league baseball player and minor league… …   Wikipedia

  • Anderson family — The Anderson family is a group of professional wrestlers, a fictitious extended family largely consisting of brothers and cousins. It started in the Minnesota area in the late 1960s with a tag team called The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, consisting… …   Wikipedia

  • Anderson v. Stallone — 11 USPQ2D 1161 (C.D. Cal. 1989) was a copyright infringement lawsuit against Sylvester Stallone, MGM, and other parties over a script for Stallone s film Rocky IV . This script written by Anderson was unsolicited and unauthorized, a key fact tha …   Wikipedia

  • Rocky Balboa (film) — Rocky VI redirects here. For the parody by Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki, see Rocky VI (1986 film). Rocky Balboa Directed by Sylvester Stallone …   Wikipedia

  • Rocky (film series) — Rocky series Directed by John G. Avildsen (Rocky Rocky V) Sylvester Stallone (Rocky II IV Rocky Balboa) Produced by Robert Chartoff Irwin Winkler Written by …   Wikipedia

  • Rocky Mountain News — The last front page of the Rocky Mountain News, printed February 27, 2009. Type Daily newspaper Format Tabloid …   Wikipedia

  • Rocky View County, Alberta — Rocky View County   Municipal district   View of the Rockies and Foothills …   Wikipedia

  • Rocky Top — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Rocky Top es una de las siete canciones oficiales del estado de Tennessee, EE. UU. Fue escrita en 1967 por el matrimonio Felice y Boudleaux Bryant en tan sólo diez minutos. Esta canción es también el himno de guerra… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Rocky IV (soundtrack) — Rocky IV Soundtrack album by Various artists Released November 27, 1985 2006 (remaster) 2010 (Intrada) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”