LAYTON -- Mayor Steve Curtis, a former Ogden High School football lineman, cuts an imposing figure in his colorful pin-striped suits.
Yet the 54 year-old goatee-bearded, balding mayor who captured re-election in November, is described by many as being "common," "blue collar" and a "throwback."
The Ogden/Bountiful raised mayor takes delight in those depictions as he prepares for another a four-year term in office.
"I don't feel that I am intimidating. When strangers meet me, they may feel I am intimidating," Curtis said.
But in turn, Curtis said, he is not easily intimidated. "But at the same time, I like to be perceived as a lovable teddy bear."
And regarding his dress, which has become a part of character?
"The suits are just me. I'm not trying to come across as a Mafia Don. I like pinstripes. That is all there is to it," Curtis said, a 30-year resident of Layton who served on the city council for 10 years before being elected mayor in 2005.
His only unsuccessful bid in seeking office came in 1993 when he fell just short of capturing a council seat.
It was that experience and his participation in athletics as a player and coach, Curtis said, that drive him to be competitive but fair.
His recent mayoral race against challenger Bob Stevenson, and the thousands of dollars he committed out of pocket to hold off the hard-charging foe who had the support of many notable Layton residents, is evidence of Curtis' desire to compete and win.
Curtis said he first became interested in city politics after being a city recreation baseball coach and, based on that experience, wanted to affect change within the Layton recreation program.
And Curtis manages to keep sports within his reach, having served as a volunteer for the 2002 Winter Games as the Qwest venue manager for the Ice Sheet in Ogden, and supporting his children who have taken excelled in high school athletics and extracurricular programs at Layton High.
Councilman Renny Knowlton, who has worked alongside Curtis for 12 years -- including campaigning against him for a council position in 1995, only to lose by 11 votes -- can speak to Curtis' competitiveness.
"He was the first one to come up with the 4-foot by 8-foot (campaign sign)," Knowlton said. "That kind of escalated the campaigning in Layton. Before it was low-key."
Knowlton said Curtis' success in campaigning is similar to how he works in the office of mayor.
"(Curtis) is a people person. He relates well to people one on one. He lets you know he is one of you," Knowlton said.
"He just happens to be the mayor."
It's his ability to communicate with the average citizen that has allowed Curtis to capture re-election.
"People that like him -- really like him," said Knowlton, who describes Curtis as a fiscally and socially conservative mayor.
Another strong characteristic Curtis possesses is his hands-off approach to working with the council.
"He doesn't try to persuade us or push us in most instances," Knowlton said.
"He sets the agenda, we control the votes. That is part of the reason we have been very successful as a city."
City Manager Alex Jensen, who has worked with Curtis for 14 years, describes him as "a common man" and a throwback to the days when cities had citizen politicians.
"He does not put himself above anybody. He genuinely cares about people. He wants them to be happy and comfortable in the city," Jensen said.
Curtis is also professional in how he approaches staff, Jensen said, often asking for information from them, being engaged on the issues and genuinely listening to them before reaching a conclusion.
"He never comes into an issue with his mind already made up," Jensen said. "If he doesn't agree with staff, he will tell us. What you see is what you get with Mayor Steve Curtis."
And in all the time he has known Curtis, Jensen said, the success he has had in being an elected leader has done little to change him.
"His interaction with people has not changed. He has always remembered where he came from," Jensen said.
To remind him, on the wall of the mayor's office in vinyl lettering is a motto that best sums up Layton's mayor: "Your Friend, Your Neighbor, Your Mayor."
"I don't think you could frame it any better," Jensen said of the motto that Curtis paid to have placed.
The public's initial impression of him may be "Oh my gosh," Curtis admits.
But once people get to know him, he said, they find "This guy is pretty normal."
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