Ezra Thompson (1850–1923) was the 12th and 14th mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, US, who was elected three times and served two non-consecutive terms. He was mayor from 1900 to 1903 and 1906 to 1907.
In September 1904, Thompson was one of the founders of the anti-Mormon[2][3]American Party. The party's principal goal was to eliminate the influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) over politics in Utah. In 1905, He was the new party's candidate for mayor, and he was elected; four other elected members of the city council were also members of the American Party. During this term, he was an outspoken critic of the LDS Church and accused church leaders of continuing to sanction the practice of plural marriage.
In 1907, Thompson's chief of police, George Sheets, was accused of bribery. Although formally cleared of charges, Sheets nevertheless resigned and Thompson followed five days later on August 2, 1907. His stated reason for resigning was ill health. He was replaced as mayor by American Party leader John S. Bransford, who was subsequently elected to a full term in the 1907 election.[4]
Thompson died in Salt Lake City on April 8, 1923. One of the city's largest landowners, his estate was valued at over $2.5 million.[1]
^Nancy Capace, Encyclopedia of Utah (Somerset Publishers, 2001) p. 120
^Larry R. Gerlach, "Ku Klux Klan", Utah History Encyclopedia.
^Nichols, Jeffrey D. (2002). Prostitution, Polygamy, and Power: Salt Lake City, 1847–1918. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 138. ISBN978-0-252-02768-0.
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