We welcome new Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, and we applaud her call for “building an inclusive and welcoming” city during her tenure as mayor. She has also stated that “improving air quality will be at the core of every decision and policy we make." That’s a worthy priority and one that deserves a great deal of support. There are many reasons to be optimistic about Biskupski’s administration, including her commitment to help the homeless population and streamline business permits and building codes. We hope she is successful in implementing these policies to lead Salt Lake City into a bright future.
At the same time, it is also appropriate to recognize the achievements of her predecessor, outgoing Mayor Ralph Becker, who fell short of re-election by less than 1,200 votes. Becker took office at a time when Salt Lake City government was deeply polarized and overtly ideological. Becker became a voice of reason who was more interested in practical accomplishments than political gamesmanship. His political career has been marked by pragmatism, much of which was rooted in his background as a certified planner. He worked as the Utah state planning coordinator under Gov. Scott Matheson, as well as the Salt Lake planning commissioner. He is one of only three Utahns to be named a fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
It’s that practical approach that earned Becker a great deal of respect from both sides of the aisle when he served as a state legislator and, for four years, as the Utah House Democratic leader. That respect carried over into the mayor’s office, where he was able to confront many difficult issues in innovative ways. Most notably, Becker was instrumental in crafting Salt Lake City’s landmark nondiscrimination ordinance, which offered protections for LGBT individuals seeking employment and housing. That ordinance provided the template for Utah’s landmark anti-discrimination legislation based on the same principles, legislation that has earned national acclaim as the gold standard for balancing individual rights with religious liberty.
At Biskupski’s swearing-in ceremony, Becker admitted that he had mixed feelings about entering a new chapter of his life, but he had nothing but positive words for his successor. “I'm excited for her, and I wish her the best to do well and for the city to do well,” he said. “It’s the beginning of a new era. I’m looking forward to it.”
As we welcome the new era, we also applaud the many successes of this past era. We congratulate the incoming mayor and wish Ralph Becker the best in the bright future that awaits a proven public servant of such dedication, equanimity and capacity.