Becker is Salt Lake City's new mayor

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Utah House Minority Leader Ralph Becker was elected Salt Lake City's mayor Tuesday, knocking off Republican City Councilman Dave Buhler by a 2-to-1 margin.

The final vote was 25,880 to 14,693 -- 64 percent to 36 percent -- in favor of Becker, an urban planner, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Salt Lake City, which endured eight contentious years under outgoing Mayor Rocky Anderson, hasn't elected a Republican mayor in more than 30 years.

Becker campaigned on a platform of bringing smart-growth principles to the city. Buhler, a former state senator, offered his talents as a pragmatic "doer" in contrast to his "dreamer" opponent.