For instance, Keith Christensen won't be protesting President Bush this month. He would seek council backing before stepping out on controversial topics. And he wants to be on friendly terms with the Legislature.

But Christensen would keep the mayor's environmental and youth programs, downtown housing push and advocacy for equality, saying he would be honored to carry on Anderson's legacy.

Still, "I would rather be a diplomat than a warrior," Christensen said, adding that Anderson is a "passionate advocate. Sometimes his style is harsh. Sometimes it isn't what he's doing but how he's doing it that gets him into trouble."

"Rocky is not endorsing me because I'm his clone," Christensen added.

Indeed, the two are an unlikely match. The Democratic mayor is backing a registered Republican. And the two have philosophically clashed on some high-profile city issues.

Still, in endorsing Christensen during a news conference at the Main Library, Anderson labeled the former city councilman a "progressive" and praised him for his intelligence and willingness to talk tough when needed.

"Keith will be a mayor who will make us all proud," Anderson said.

Christensen has been considering running for about a year, ever since Anderson asked him to think about it. City Councilwoman Nancy Saxton is also in the race. Another dozen or so are considering running.

Christensen joined the chase, he said, to "make Salt Lake one of the most livable cities in America."

Outside Magazine may have listed the city as one of its top 10 places to live, work and play last year, but the city is overlooked by other rankings, he noted. To fix that, Christensen said he would emphasize transportation, neighborhood development, public safety and citywide beautification.

He also said his business background - he's a lawyer, real-estate investor and owner of two companies - would help him run the city. And it differentiates him from Anderson, who became mayor after work as a civil-rights litigator.

Other topics in which Anderson's and Christensen's views have diverged: In 1998, Christensen supported deputizing city police officers to identify and detain undocumented immigrants. In 1999, he voted to sell part of Main Street to the LDS Church. And, a year later, he told Anderson he was "dead wrong" to try to reinstate cruising on State Street.

Christensen said Monday that Anderson is wrong to protest the president.

"When the president of the United States comes to this city, I don't care if I agree or disagree with his views . . . I believe that office deserves the respect and greeting from the mayor of the city."

As for working with the City Council, Christensen said he is disappointed with what the public views as an "ongoing food fight at City Hall" between the two government branches. When asked if he would speak out on state issues, as Anderson does, Christensen said he would seek council input since it creates city policy.

During the news conference, Anderson highlighted when the two had worked together: to revive the light-rail line to the University of Utah and to kill a proposed outlet mall west of Salt Lake City International Airport.

In another eyebrow-raising endorsement, former mayoral finalist Stuart Reid - the candidate who lost to Anderson in 1999 - also is endorsing Christensen.

Christensen downplayed his GOP label, saying partisan politics don't belong in municipal races. While it's true the elected posts at City Hall are nonpartisan, a Republican hasn't run the city since the 1970s.

Anderson's endorsement bothers the Utah Democratic Party. The capital's top spot has been a sure bet for Utah's minority party.

"If it's important there be an alternative voice in Utah, it's critical that Democrats continue to hold the one high-office position that deals primarily with state and local politics," said Todd Taylor, executive director of the party. While Democrat Peter Corroon is the mayor of Salt Lake County, "it's still nice to hold the mayor seat in Salt Lake City."

Taylor also dismissed the good Anderson's endorsement will do. "I don't expect a lot of his past supporters who come from partisan ranks to go with [Christensen]."

Indeed, the gay and lesbian community, which backed Anderson, won't be easily swayed. As a councilman, Christensen twice voted against a nondiscrimination policy that protected gay city employees.

On Monday, Christensen said he now supports the measure, along with another city policy that extends city health benefits to gay employees' partners, saying "equality is an absolute."

"The candidates really need to bear out themselves what their conviction is for our community," said Valerie Larabee, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Utah, which doesn't endorse candidates. "It's too early for us to point to any one person that [the gay community] would be in favor of."

hmay@sltrib.com

Keith Christensen

Age: 55

Lives: In District 7 on the east bench near the Salt Lake Country Club.

Business: Practiced law in real estate and natural resources; co-owner of Wind River Petroleum convenience stores; owner of Christensen Industries, which manufactures parts for domestic and military aircraft; private real-estate investor.

Education: Graduated from Brigham Young University and University of Puget Sound Law School.

Family: Married to Kristina Christensen. He has three children from a previous marriage.

Political experience: Elected to Salt Lake City Council in 1993 and re-elected in 1997. Former trustee of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Current chairman of the Salt Lake City Airport Authority.

In the race but not running - yet

Keith Christensen may have officially entered the 2007 mayoral chase Monday, but he said he won't start campaigning until next year out of "respect" for candidates in 2006 races. He also won't pledge to limit his campaign spending - the city has a voluntary cap of $375,000 - saying "nobody else will." He doesn't plan to spend his own money on his race, saying he doesn't want to "buy an election."