A native of Racine, the mayor was born September 23, 1957. He grew up on Racine’s north side. In 1975 graduated from St. Catherine’s High School. After high school he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UW-Madison in 1980.

Shortly after college the mayor crossed paths with a former classmate, Julie Fischer, and they were married on Valentine’s Day in 1981. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Lindsay and Maggie.

The mayor had a career in sales that took him to Arkansas for three years, and Minneapolis for six years. In 1991 he started his own business, Valet Cleaners. In 1995 he decided the time was right to run for alderman of Racine’s 15th District. He served two, two year terms. In 1999, he chose not to run and took four years off from elected office.

In 2003 after winning a five way primary, he was elected Mayor of the City of Racine on April 1, 2003. Mayor Becker is now in his second term, running unopposed in 2007.

In addition to the city committees he sites on and chairs, the mayor is active in a number of regional and national organizations:

• US Conference of Mayors
• Housing and Development Committee member
• Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services member
• Ad hoc Committee on Climate Change member
• Mayors Water Council member
• Wisconsin Alliance of Cities – Vice-Chair
• Wisconsin Coastal Management Council – Chair
• Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Cities Initiative – Chair
• Wisconsin Chapter – National Brownfields Assn. – President
• Regional Collaboration for the Great Lakes – Co-Chair Sustainable Development section