This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

When I first read Rocky Anderson's op-ed ("Becker legacy is failed leadership and broken promises," Oct. 4), I was dismayed by its mean spirit and absurd accusations. But then I realized Rocky and his clique of loyal allies — including three members of Jackie Biskupski's campaign finance committee — were spot-on in describing my husband's vision and leadership style as very different from his opponent's.

Ralph Becker does what he was elected to do: he governs. He does it with civility and compassion. He attacks problems, not people. He works together with teams and communities and individuals and specialists to understand issues, challenges and options — and then he makes decisions. Sometimes those decisions are hard, and they don't make everyone happy. But good leaders like Ralph continually ask what is best for the community in the long run. They know that decision making often comes with push-back, and that complaining about something is a lot easier than actually getting something done.

Ralph serves our city day and night, weekends and holidays. When he travels for work, he's tied to city business through his phone and computer. When we travel for pleasure, he takes pictures and notes to capture ideas and innovations that might work here. When we're out together, he listens patiently to people's concerns, then takes those concerns back to City Hall for follow up. With every project or proposal, he weighs and re-weighs whether taxpayers are getting the best deal. At night he's kept awake by the daunting challenges of homelessness, income inequality, polluted air, our warming planet, the inevitable earthquake.

Contrary to the opposition's disingenuous claims, this city knows Ralph Becker as a tireless advocate for equality – and not just for the LGBT community. As a newly elected mayor, he worked with the City Council to eliminate inequality in the way his predecessor distributed funds to local arts organizations. He supports the growing global trend in "complete" and sustainable streets so that vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians have equal access to safe and user-friendly roads. He started the city's first Office for Diversity and Human Rights — focused on the rights of refugees, women, minorities and others. As a convener of stakeholders with an interest in protecting the Wasatch Mountains, he has devoted countless hours to ensuring all voices are equally represented and valued in the consensus-driven Mountain Accord process.

Ralph terminated Chief Chris Burbank in the interest of equality and justice for women. In fact, my husband has done more than any previous mayor, and far more than his opponent, to improve hiring and income parity for women. Just look at the two candidates' public-service track records. In Ralph's seven-plus plus years in office, the number of women in leadership, management and staff positions in city government has more than doubled. And while Utah women earn only 70 cents to every dollar earned by men, women employed by Salt Lake City earn nearly 91 cents. This is remarkable even nationally — where U.S. women earn 78 cents to a man's dollar. This information is available through a city baseline and tracking system that Ralph initiated to ensure the needle keeps moving for women.

Unlike his predecessor, Ralph does not seek attention through cameras and headlines. He works quietly and cooperatively, and he knows what it takes to balance the many competing interests and complexities facing a major American city like ours.

In my view, this election comes down to a simple choice. If the people of Salt Lake City want to return to an era of divisive, special-interest and single-issue politics, they should cast their vote for Ralph's opponent. If they want a nationally recognized mayor with a long track record of delivering results, who is more interested in solutions than headlines, and who is respectful of everyone — even his critics — then they should vote for my husband.

Ralph Becker is a leader who exemplifies the qualities and personal attributes we all say we value.

Kate Kopischke is an international mediator, dialogue facilitator and a Senior Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank Group. She married Ralph Becker in 2013.