Ralph Becker (Utah)
Encyclopedia
Ralph Elihu Becker Jr. is an American
politician
and attorney
who is the former Minority Leader
of the Utah State House of Representatives, the 34th and current mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah
.
to Ralph Elihu Becker
and Ann Watters Becker. He received his B.A.
from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1973, his J.D.
from the University of Utah College of Law in 1977, and his M.S. in Geography/Planning from the University of Utah
in 1982. Becker is an attorney
and planner
(FAICP), who has co-founded Bear West in 1985, a planning, natural resources consulting firm
. He also is an Adjunct Professor at the College of Architecture and Planning, University of Utah
.
Becker has had a career that has spanned serving in the National Park Service
as a garbage man
, firefighter
, and ranger
(law enforcement and EMT
) (1971–76), Utah State Planning Coordinator under Governor Scott Matheson (1981–1985), and Salt Lake City Planning Commissioner (1988–1996). He is one of three people in Utah to be a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners
. His Utah legislative accomplishments include six years in Utah legislative leadership (four years as House Democratic Leader), leading the passage of the Quality Growth Act (1999), funding for trails, open space, and transit, Utah's first Energy Policy Act, and advocating social justice issues.
In November 2006, Ralph Becker announced his candidacy for the 2007 race for Salt Lake City Mayor and won on November 6, 2007.
At noon, January 7, 2008, Ralph Becker took the oath of office and began his four-year term as mayor.
In November 2009, Becker signed into law the most progressive non-discrimination ordinances ever seen in the state of Utah.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who is the former Minority Leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
of the Utah State House of Representatives, the 34th and current mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
Early life and career
Ralph Elihu Becker was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to Ralph Elihu Becker
Ralph Elihu Becker
Ralph Elihu Becker was an American Ambassador to Honduras from 1976-1977 under the Ford administration. He was a founding trustee of the National Center for the Performing Arts and served as its general counsel during the Eisenhower administration and until 1976.Ralph Becker was born on January...
and Ann Watters Becker. He received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1973, his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Utah College of Law in 1977, and his M.S. in Geography/Planning from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in 1982. Becker is an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and planner
Urban planner
An urban planner or city planner is a professional who works in the field of urban planning/land use planning for the purpose of optimizing the effectiveness of a community's land use and infrastructure. They formulate plans for the development and management of urban and suburban areas, typically...
(FAICP), who has co-founded Bear West in 1985, a planning, natural resources consulting firm
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
. He also is an Adjunct Professor at the College of Architecture and Planning, University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.
Becker has had a career that has spanned serving in the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
as a garbage man
Garbage Man
Garbage Man may refer to:*a waste collector, a person who goes to houses and businesses to collect waste and take it to a landfill, incinerator, or waste facility.*"Garbage Man," a song by G. Love and Special Sauce from their 1994 album G...
, firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
, and ranger
Park ranger
A park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...
(law enforcement and EMT
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
) (1971–76), Utah State Planning Coordinator under Governor Scott Matheson (1981–1985), and Salt Lake City Planning Commissioner (1988–1996). He is one of three people in Utah to be a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners
American Institute of Certified Planners
The American Institute of Certified Planners is the American Planning Association's professional institute. AICP certifies professionals in the United States in the field of Urban and Regional planning and assists planners in the areas of ethics, professional development, planning education, and...
. His Utah legislative accomplishments include six years in Utah legislative leadership (four years as House Democratic Leader), leading the passage of the Quality Growth Act (1999), funding for trails, open space, and transit, Utah's first Energy Policy Act, and advocating social justice issues.
In November 2006, Ralph Becker announced his candidacy for the 2007 race for Salt Lake City Mayor and won on November 6, 2007.
At noon, January 7, 2008, Ralph Becker took the oath of office and began his four-year term as mayor.
Political accomplishments and controversies
In July 2009, Becker received major criticism for his decision to place a Public Safety Building in the same city block as Salt Lake City's Main Public Library known as Library Square. Eventually, Becker would opt to place the Public Safety Building on the block immediately east of the proposed location - a more popular option.In November 2009, Becker signed into law the most progressive non-discrimination ordinances ever seen in the state of Utah.