"I was tossing garbage cans and cleaning toilets. Whatever was needed," Becker remembers. "I just completely fell in love with the landscapes out here."

He rarely left - except to finish college in Pennsylvania - before landing a job as a park ranger. Soon, those summers spent trekking and toiling outdoors would shape Becker's interests and, eventually, his career.

A youthful 55-year-old, Becker runs rivers, backpacks, bikes City Creek Canyon and skis the backcountry. He first hit Salt Lake City in 1974 to tackle an environmental law degree. During three decades he would work as an attorney, open an urban-planning firm and, later, serve as House minority leader.

Now, the soft-spoken Democrat, who spent eight years on the city's Planning Commission, has his sights on the mayor's seat to guide what he repeatedly calls a "great American city."

"I look at this job as the perfect job for me," he says with an easy smile.

Fellow Democrats, who know him from the Legislature, agree.

"He's extremely well qualified and has vision," says Patrice Arent, who served as minority whip under Becker. "He knows how to bring people together."

Becker also earns respect across the aisle. Former Capitol Hill GOP heavyweight Jeff Alexander praises him. Republican City Councilman Eric Jergensen supports him. And GOP state Rep. Eric Hutchings calls him "a true gentleman," willing to work with anyone. Even Rep. Steve Urquhart, a sponsor of the school-vouchers bill, which Becker worked to defeat, has endorsed the Democrat.

Despite what seems to be universal likability - nearly the entire Democratic caucus backs him - few outside his Avenues district know him.

A Salt Lake Tribune poll taken earlier this month shows 35 percent of likely city voters never have heard of Becker - the highest number among the four top candidates seeking the nonpartisan mayoral post.

But the divorced father of two adult sons - he is running third in the poll with 16 percent behind Jenny Wilson (25 percent) and Dave Buhler (23 percent) - says the numbers seem soft. Blitzing the neighborhoods with volunteers, Becker insists the undecided sentiment sits as high as 50 percent.

"People just need to get to know me," he shrugs. "I tend to be kind of a quiet guy. That's who I am. I'm not going to change that for a campaign."

Indeed, Becker notes, he snagged more votes in his last re-election (7,000) than the 6,100 that got Rocky Anderson out of a crowded mayoral primary in 1999.

Politics comes naturally for Becker, given his Beltway roots. He watched as his father worked as an attorney for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Later, Becker spent a summer in the legislative division for the National Park Service. And, while finishing law school, he worked in Salt Lake City's solicitor's office for the Interior Department.

Becker later lobbied for natural-resources issues with Bonneville Associates, the firm that became Bonneville Pacific and went bankrupt years later, making headlines due to connections to then-Mayor Deedee Corradini.

But his political teeth primarily were cut in his late 20s, when he went to work for Democratic Gov. Scott Matheson. There, Becker inherited Project BOLD, an ambitious proposal to clump the state's school-trust lands - 5,000-plus parcels - and do a massive land exchange with the federal government.

"You're affecting literally everyone in the state who touches public lands - ranchers, miners, the environmental community," Becker recalls. "My job was to sort through this labyrinth of policy and law."

The plan hit a roadblock with the Norm Bangerter administration, but finally saw some success under Gov. Mike Leavitt.

Becker considered Matheson, who died in 1990, a mentor and "an absolute giant," who never got mired in partisan punch-outs.

"We didn't understand at the time how unique Scott Matheson was as an elected official," he says. "It's something I look forward to as mayor: going back to the basics."

The admiration is mutual, according to former first lady Norma Matheson, who says Becker "performed so beautifully" for her husband.

Becker basically became family, she adds, and continues to exude "a quiet sense for leadership."

"The city's face is changing, and his background in planning is going to be invaluable."

In 1985, Becker formed Bear West, an environmental- and community-planning firm that gained notice after taking on the city's watershed plan as well as the Wasatch canyons master plan. Later, Becker worked on rail routes for the Utah Transit Authority.

Becker had no desire for public office until he got involved with the Greater Avenues Community Council after the floods of 1983. There, he fought to revive his beloved Memory Grove, riddled with crime, trash and unsavory traffic.

He parlayed that into a seat on the city's Planning Commission. After a nudge from outgoing Democratic House leader Frank Pignanelli, a chair in the Legislature was next.

Becker surprised pundits by besting the former Port O' Call owner in the 1996 race and never has looked back.

"From that point forward, I've been fully engaged," he says.

By his third term, Becker had ascended to minority leader - a post he still holds - where he continually pushes for open-space protection and more cash for public schools.

If elected, Becker cites education as his No. 1 priority. Openly frustrated over the funding failures at the state level, Becker would appoint a full-time liaison to promote partnerships between the city and schools, particularly on the west side.

He also pledges to push Anderson's environmental initiatives and ramp up funding and focus for additional bicycle paths.

"This should be a very bikeable city and it's not," laments Becker, who also champions transit.

The candidate also worries about "very low" employee morale and a Planning Department he says is "in shambles."

"It's shameful what's happened to the planning aspect in city government," he says. "The neighborhoods are just about in revolt."

Beyond the monster-home maelstrom, Becker says the capital must ensure good building standards, consistency and responsiveness.

To foster economic development, he would like to see more connection between downtown and the University of Utah as well as to the cultural amenities on the east bench. He likes the trend toward loft living - "We need a 24-7 population for downtown to function," he says - but stresses the need for affordable housing.

And on the polarizing issue of a sky bridge - planned for the LDS Church's City Creek Center project - Becker is "conditionally supportive."

"We still have a long way to go on the design."

Jim Bradley, a fellow Democrat and friend who serves on the Salt Lake County Council, says Becker's biggest hurdle may be his management skills.

"His challenge may be marshaling the resources in one direction," Bradley says. "The city is a large organization. You have to be able to create an esprit there. I don't know if he's had an ability to really do that."

Critics suggest Becker can be too deliberative, even bureaucratic; he would defend it as consensus building.

Either way, if elected, Becker promises to be as amiable as Anderson is abrasive. "The mayor should serve as a bridge builder," he says. "Whether that's Mormon, non-Mormon, east-side, west-side or BYU-Utah."

Given that he teaches at the U. and is an alum, forgive him if he bleeds a little red.

djensen@sltrib.com

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You may also e-mail questions to webmaster@sltrib.com. All questions should be submitted by Aug. 20. The Tribune and KUTV will select questions for the debate, which will be broadcast Aug. 26 at 5 p.m. on KUTV Channel 2.