- 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 formermayor ofSalt 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 abachelor's degree inphilosophy from theUniversity of Utah [ [http://www.voterocky.com/about-college.html Official Campaign Biography] ] and graduated in 1978 with a J.D. degree fromThe 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 theUtah State Bar Association and as President ofAnderson and Karrenberg , aSalt 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, andGuadalupe Schools . On behalf of Common Cause, Anderson lobbied for stronger legislation pertaining to ethical conduct by elected officials and forcampaign finance reform . Anderson also founded and served as President ofCitizens 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 ofgay marriage the focus of his campaign in that race.Fact|date=January 2008Mayor 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 . RetrievedSeptember 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. Accessed28 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 morebicycle-friendly andpedestrian-friendly , andcogeneration plants at the City’s landfill and wastewater treatment facility that recapturemethane 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 theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency , and theSierra Club acknowledged his environmental work with its Distinguished Service Award. In November 2005, the Salt Lake City Green program garnered Salt Lake City theWorld Leadership Award , presented by theWorld 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 strictliquor laws. (State law permits the sale of liquor only inrestaurant s, privateclub s, and state-runliquor store s. 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 enforcedimmigration 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 comprehensiveimmigration 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 , orsexual 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 the2002 Olympic Winter Games . Mayor Anderson handed off the Olympic flag at the closing ceremonies. He endorsed Romney's subsequent 2002 gubernatorial bid inMassachusetts . [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 2008Anderson 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] abi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired byBoston MayorThomas Menino andNew York City MayorMichael 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 onhuman 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 gaveGeorge 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, theDrug 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 andalcoholic beverage s on two occasions for musicians who performed at theSalt 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 2008When 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 inLondon . Leading with the headline, “LDS Church Not Taliban, Rocky says,” the paper implied that Anderson had compared life inUtah to life under theTaliban . [ [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 towardThe 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 hisalcohol 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 theeditorial pages of the "Deseret Morning News" and otherUtah 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 the2006 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 downtownreal-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 ] OnJune 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 atVeterans of Foreign Wars ' National Convention at theSalt 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 atPioneer Park indowntown 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 theO'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 PresidentDick 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] . RetrievedSeptember 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 . RetrievedOctober 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 . RetrievedOctober 7 ,2005 .
*"Ogden Standard-Examiner" editorial board, [http://www2.standard.net/standard/opinion/63922/ Rocky vs. the Taliban] , "Ogden Standard-Examiner ",October 6 ,2005 . RetrievedOctober 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 . RetrievedOctober 7 ,2005 .
* [http://kutv.com/video/?id=18850@kutv.dayport.com Anti-war protest speech] (video as recorded by CBS) by Rocky Anderson given onAugust 30 ,2006 . RetrievedSeptember 2 ,2006 .
* [http://oneutah.org/oneutah-filez/authors/ra/Aug30-06speech.pdf Text ofAugust 30 ,2006 Speech (pdf)]
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