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Richard Mystrom (born 1944) is an American politician, businessman, and author who served as the 32nd mayor of the Municipality of Anchorage from 1994 to 2000. He is a member of the Republican party.
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Rick Mystrom | |
|---|---|
| 32nd Mayor of Anchorage | |
| In office July 1, 1994 – July 1, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Fink |
| Succeeded by | George Wuerch |
| Member of the Anchorage Assembly from Seat D | |
| In office 1979–1985 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Besser |
| Succeeded by | Bill Faulkner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1943 (age 80–81) Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. |
Mystrom was born in Minnesota in 1944 and attended the University of Colorado Boulder. In 1964, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He moved to Alaska in 1972.[1]
In 1975, Mystrom established Mystrom/Beck Advertising. In 1982, he received the Small Business Person of the Year Award from President Ronald Reagan.[2] 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.[3] 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
In the 2003 election, he challenged incumbent Republican mayor George Wuerch in a three-way race. Begich, who had unsuccessfully faced Wuerch in 2000, was elected.[citation needed]
Mystrom is a longtime advocate of bringing the Winter Olympic Games to Anchorage, and has chaired several committees to that end. Anchorage was twice the U.S. candidate for these Games (1992 and 1994).[4][5]
He has two sons, Nick and Richard, and a daughter, Jennifer, with his former wife, Mary.[citation needed]
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