- Rick Mystrom
Rick Mystrom is a Republican politician and businessman in
Anchorage, Alaska . He wasMayor of Anchorage from 1994-2000.Biography
Mystrom was born in
Minnesota and came to Alaska in 1972.In 1975, he established Mystrom/Beck advertising. In 1982, he received the Small Business Person of the Year Award from President
Ronald Reagan . [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=42516] In 1990, he sold his advertising business, which was later merged into the Nerland Agency.Mystrom was elected to the Anchorage Assembly in 1979, serving until 1985. In 1994, he defeated Democrat
Mark Begich to succeedTom Fink as Mayor of Anchorage. In 1997, he withstood a challenge from former Mayor and fellow Republican Fink. Mystrom was widely considered the more moderate of the two Republican candidate.In office, Mystrom emphasized crime-reduction and championed the "City of Lights" beautification program, encouraging residents and employers to ornament their homes and businesses with decorative lights during Anchorage's dark winter.
In 2003, he challenged incumbent Republican mayor
George Wuerch in a three-way race. Begich, who had usuccessfully faced Wuerch in 2000, was elected.Mystrom is a long-time advocate of bringing the
Winter Olympics to Anchorage, and has chaired several committees to that end.He has two sons, Nick and Richard, and a daughter, Jennifer, with his wife, Mary.
References
* [http://www.anchoragepress.com/newarchives/drivemecrazy.html Profile in the Anchorage Press]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
