Rick Mystrom

Trivia

• Mystrom is a longtime advocate of bringing the Winter Olympics to Anchorage, and has chaired several committees to that end.
• In 2003, he challenged incumbent Republican mayor George Wuerch in a three-way race. Begich, who had unsuccessfully faced Wuerch in 2000, was elected.
• 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 1997, he withstood a challenge from Fink, a fellow Republican. Mystrom was widely considered the more moderate of the two Republican candidates.
• In 1994, he defeated Democrat Mark Begich to succeed Tom Fink as Mayor of Anchorage.
• Mystrom was elected to the Anchorage Assembly in 1979, serving until 1985.
• In 1990, he sold his advertising business, which was later merged into the Nerland Agency.
• In 1982, he received the Small Business Person of the Year Award from President Ronald Reagan.
• In 1975, he established Mystrom/Beck Advertising.