I was a runner for 36 years and ran hundreds of road races. I was not fast like Mayor Wendy Koenig; I was a middle-of-the-pack guy, sometimes farther back than that. But I did it!
Watching the NYC Marathon Sunday, Nov. 2, brought back amazing memories of that race. I remember the early subway ride, the Staten Island Ferry, the Verrazano Bridge with Frank Sinatra’s song crooning, the heady early miles through Brooklyn’s neighborhoods, Queens, the quiet of the 59th Street Bridge, followed by the roar of the First Avenue crowd as you enter Manhattan, the symbolic “wall” in the Bronx, and the incredible Central Park finish. Memories of the middle of the pack!
Some think that I operate too close to the middle of the road as mayor, that I should take stronger stands on certain things. It’s an interesting perspective. I’ll list some topics that I’ve spoken strongly for or against. When it comes time to vote on an issue in the public board meetings, I offer my “yea” or “nay.”
I abstained a couple of times in my first year. I doubt that I’ll do that again. You’ll most always get a yes or no out of me.
I frequently let the trustees wax on about the various issues and often say little. I try to keep my comments very compact and to the point. “I like the X option, I support Y, I don’t agree with Z.” Often, my comments are that short. But yes, you should always have the opportunity to know why your mayor votes yes or no. If you want to know why I voted the way I did on certain issues, ask me.
In high school debate, we had to argue both sides of a resolution. We did pretty well, and that helped me see both sides and broaden my thoughts, but I do have a personal position on most topics.
In elections local and national, my USAF father never revealed how he cast his vote. He felt that voting was a citizen’s private affair. We didn’t talk politics. I respected that. My position at the town is nonpartisan. I’m here to serve all of you, and I typically do not state a public position on partisan items.
Even on local items, I may not express a public opinion. For example, on the ballot initiatives this time around, my decision was “send it to the voters.” Yes, I voted privately, but my vote is not consequential to my position as mayor. It is my sworn responsibility to support the results either way.
I have strong feelings about certain topics that affect Estes. I was a strong advocate for the Fall River Village purchase. I like the Loop. I was very active in trying to secure a pool of funds to provide some relief to businesses negatively affected by the Loop. I was publicly supportive of our Safeway workers during the strike. I did not want to take back the funds granted to the EVFPD for fire mitigation in the Thunder Mountain. I’m actively advocating for a fresh set of Estes faces on the new operational board of the soon-to-be-acquired Estes Park Health. I support paid parking. I like Whimsadoodle and the town’s work to make Estes downtown multidimensional.
I speak firmly and clearly when I strongly support or oppose things.
I’ve supported some rezonings and developments, and I voted against a couple of them.
I did not believe that the VEP board should be dissolved when that topic arose. I’m not convinced of the efficacy of a reduced-size VEP board and the proposed separate marketing advisory board. Creation of more bureaucracy is not usually my idea of greater effectiveness. I’ll be happy with it if it is superior. But you can teach marketers and merchants governance; it’s not magic.
Having the right leadership is usually the best ingredient. You need someone who can coach and craft teams that work in harmony. I’ve been told by Longmont folks how good the new VEP CEO, Sarah Leonard, was as the head of Visit Longmont. I hope she can resolve the issues that have sometimes beset Visit Estes, that she will support and nurture a strong summer and build our shoulders.
The fire department needs a good, strong, listening leader with full board support. And the staff, all of them, volunteer and paid, have to support the new chief; there can’t be subtle or obvious mutinies. We have to see an end to this fire chief revolving door. There are schisms that need long-term effective leadership, and everyone – board, staff, leadership – must help heal the department.
A great leader has to see the whole road, not just the middle. I’ve held leadership positions for 40 of my 50 working years, and I’ve seen so many good, bad, and exceptional leaders.
So, there are some opinions from your fair but not always middlin’ mayor. Does that help?