Rick Mystrom
Encyclopedia
Rick Mystrom is a Republican politician and businessman in Anchorage, Alaska
. He was Mayor of Anchorage from 1994 to 2000.
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
. 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 succeed Tom Fink
as Mayor of Anchorage. In 1997, he withstood a challenge from Fink, a fellow Republican. Mystrom was widely considered the more moderate of the two Republican candidates.
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 unsuccessfully faced Wuerch in 2000, was elected.
Mystrom is a longtime advocate of bringing the Winter Olympics to Anchorage, and has chaired several committees to that end.
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. He was Mayor of Anchorage from 1994 to 2000.
Biography
Mystrom was born in MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
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
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. 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
Mark Begich
Mark Peter Begich is the junior United States Senator from Alaska and a member of the Democratic Party. A former mayor of Anchorage, he served on the Anchorage Assembly for almost ten years prior to being elected mayor in 2003...
to succeed Tom Fink
Tom Fink
Thomas A. "Tom" Fink is a Republican politician in Alaska. He was Mayor of Anchorage from 1987-1994 and Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1973-1975. He is also a former member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board after being appointed by President George W...
as Mayor of Anchorage. In 1997, he withstood a challenge from Fink, a fellow Republican. Mystrom was widely considered the more moderate of the two Republican candidates.
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
George Wuerch
George P. Wuerch is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as mayor of Anchorage, Alaska from 2000 to 2003....
in a three-way race. Begich, who had unsuccessfully faced Wuerch in 2000, was elected.
Mystrom is a longtime advocate of bringing the Winter Olympics to Anchorage, and has chaired several committees to that end.