One gem: He said Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson "votes like a right-wing Republican," referring to the congressman's support of the Iraq war and tax cuts.

Maybe the Democratic mayor feels scorned. Despite representing the party in his failed 1996 congressional race against Merrill Cook, Anderson found little party support. And, last year, the head of Salt Lake County's Democratic Party agreed with her Republican counterpart that Anderson's goodwill trip to Italy should be investigated by the district attorney. Back then Anderson said: "Democrats have a long history of screwing up just about everything they touch."

Anderson recently added: "This party has never supported me."

It certainly isn't supporting his choice for successor. Anderson endorsed Keith Christensen, a registered Republican, in the nonpartisan mayoral chase.

Rocky's big-news switch

Rocky Anderson's decision not to seek a third term was, perhaps, predictable. But the way he announced it surprised even his former environmental adviser, Lisa Romney, who helped plan the July 28 event.

The occasion was labeled a town-hall meeting on climate change. The event notices also said Anderson would make an announcement; it was supposed to be that the city had surpassed its goal of reducing greenhouse gases.

Of course, that news and Anderson's presentation on what the city has done to reduce emissions were upstaged by his subsequent speech revealing he wouldn't seek a third term.

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