On Tuesday, the Democratic state lawmaker provided an answer to The Salt Lake Tribune. "I am jumping in the mayor's race with both feet. I am going to pursue this race very aggressively."

He joins an increasingly crowded 2007 field - whose top contenders include two City Council members, a county councilwoman and a former city councilman.

Becker says his skills honed in his professional and political life - he is a planner by trade, the Utah House minority leader and was a top official under former Gov. Scott Matheson - give him the edge.

His interest in the mayoral post "starts with an excitement about Salt Lake. We have a city that can be one of the great American cities," Becker said. "It is the perfect way for me to use everything I have learned and gained."

Becker said the city stands at a critical juncture, with major developments downtown, including the LDS Church's mall makeover, which Becker backs. But, he said, Utah's capital needs to capitalize on its assets to "leapfrog to another level as a city."

He vows to work with the school district to improve city schools to reverse the flight of families moving to the suburbs. Becker wants the city to boast the state's top schools, which would in turn bolster neighborhoods.

Transportation is another key area. He supports extending light rail to the airport and building a circulator system downtown that would be faster than TRAX.

And while the Salt Lake Chamber is creating a "common vision" for downtown, Becker said the "city needs to hold up its part" by encouraging investment and creating spaces that would attract people.

Becker grew up in Washington, D.C. He ended up in Utah via the Grand Canyon. He was working as a firefighter for the National Park Service and was returning a truck to Salt Lake City when he fell in love with the Salt Lake Valley. He graduated from the University of Utah's law school and has been here ever since.

He launched into public policy by working on a state solar-advisory committee that he said led to what now is known as the renewable-energy tax credit. Then-Gov. Matheson tapped him for Project BOLD, which called for swapping state land for federal land.

Becker considers the late Matheson a mentor in how to govern. "He kept it simple. It's what is in the best interest of the people of the state of Utah today and tomorrow."

For the past 10 years, Becker has represented Salt Lake City's Avenues, Capitol Hill and downtown neighborhoods at the Legislature. Recently, he was involved in helping Salt Lake City gain state money that will lead to a realignment of Union Pacific railroad curves downtown and the elimination of freight trains from west-side neighborhoods along 900 South.

Becker won re-election last week to the Utah House, emphasizing his commitment to protecting the environment, preserving open space and increasing government accountability. He said he knew he would run for mayor even while campaigning for the Legislature and told party delegates and his caucus.

During the 2003 mayoral campaign, Becker endorsed Mayor Rocky Anderson's opponent, Frank Pignanelli. On Tuesday, Becker said he doesn't see himself as the mayor's "counterpoint," though the lawmaker said he would work more collaboratively than Anderson, who is backing Republican Keith Christensen in the officially nonpartisan mayor's chase. He supports the mayor's work on environmental and social-justice issues.

"I admire his boldness," Becker said. "I bring a different style and approach to doing things . . . that would be very helpful and healthy for the city."

State Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City, supports Becker's bid because she said he works on the issues important to her, including foothill preservation, arts and culture and historic preservation.

"All of these things are things Ralph has actively supported and been a part of and make the city great," she said.

hmay@sltrib.com

* AGE: 54

* FAMILY: Single; two adult sons; one grandchild

* CAREER: Planner, attorney. Co-founder of Bear West, a planning, environmental-assessment and public-lands policy firm. Adjunct professor at the University of Utah's College of Architecture and Planning. Former firefighter and law-enforcement officer for the National Park Service.

* POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member of the Utah House for 10 years; current House minority leader; former member of the Salt Lake City Planning Commission; former state planning coordinator under then-Gov. Scott Matheson.

Ralph Becker