Ralph Becker was sworn in as Mayor of Salt Lake City in January 2008 and was re-elected in 2011 by a wide margin.
Prior to becoming Mayor, he served in the Utah House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007. During that time he served seven years in leadership, including five years as House Democratic Leader.
Background
Ethnicity:
Grandmother was born in Belarus(Minsk), grandfather was born in Lithuania
Becker was born in Washington, D.C. to Ralph Elihu Becker and Ann Watters Becker. His father, Ralph Elihu Becker, was United States Ambassador to Honduras from 1976 to 1977 during the Ford administration.
Education
Mr. Becker received a Bachelor of Arts in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 and a J.D. (1977) and Master’s Degree in Geography and Planning (1982) from the University of Utah.
Career
Over 30 years ago, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker was taken by the same allure that brought many residents to Utah’s Capital City, drawn by the area’s unique mix of geographic beauty, metropolitan energy and year-round recreational opportunities.Elected to the Utah State Legislature in 1996, Ralph was a member of the House of Representatives for 11 years and battled for the issues most important to his Avenues constituents. He served in legislative leadership positions for most of that tenure, including five years as House Minority Leader.
In 2008, Ralph brought this considerable body of education, experience and engagement with local issues to his new office of Mayor of Salt Lake City.
In his first term, Mayor Becker has greatly expanded transportation options for the City’s res-dents and visitors, with a special focus on public transit, trails and bikeways. He also championed the state’s first municipal protections in the areas of employment and housing for the City’s LGBT community – an effort that has since been replicated by Salt Lake County and over a dozen local governments throughout Utah. Under Mayor Becker’s leadership, City government has become much more transparent, and new opportunities have been created for residents to engage and participate in the decision making process.
During the recession, Mayor Becker overcame the largest budget gaps in Salt Lake City’s history without raising taxes, reducing core City services, or implementing significant layoffs.
In November 2014 he was sworn in as President of the National League of Cities a resource and advocacy organization that supports 49 municipal leagues and elected leaders in more than 19,000 cities.
Mayor Becker is a leader who has made, and will continue to make, collaboration and partnerships an essential element in his efforts to see Salt Lake City as an even more vibrant, livable and sustainable community for its current residents and into the future.
Views
His commitment to social justice led to expanded protections for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender residents through a Mutual Commitment Registry and a Non-Discrimination ordinance supported by the LDS Church. In December 2013, when gay marriage briefly became legal in Utah, Mayor Becker officiated nuptial ceremonies for 35 couples in a single day. And in October 2014, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in Utah for the foreseeable future, Mayor Becker helped lead the enthusiastic celebration marking marriage equality for our residents.
Membership
American Institute of Certified Planners, 1982-present
Fellow, American Institute of Certified Planners, present
Past President, American Planning Association, Utah Chapter
Board Member, Council of State Governments Trends Board, present
Member, Memory Grove Oversight Committee, present
Member, Natural Resources Section, Utah State Bar, present
Member, Regional Advisory Board, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, present
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Betsy Burton (Local business owner): "Ralph's leadership is bringing small business and neighborhoods together in a way i never imagined as possible."
Ben McAdams (Salt Lake County Mayor) : " Ralph's a mayor that gets things done."
Cody Derrick (cityhome collective) : "Unless there are leaders like Ralph Becker who work with the people and who are willing to put their neck on the line, change doesn't happen."
Interests
Away from work, Mayor Becker is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He is a backcountry skier, cyclist, backpacker and river runner – personifying the adventurous spirit that brings so many people to Salt Lake City
Connections
He has two sons and a granddaughter, and is married to Kate Kopischke, an international mediator and dialogue facilitator.