Being Mayor

Since this is the last Marina Matters column in the Gazette before the November election, I think it is important to take a few moments and talk about the role of a Mayor.

A lot has been said during the campaign by the Mayor about how involved he is with everything in the community, how friendly the Council meetings are and what a great job he has done. It has been my role to point out the differences in the reality of his perception and the vision for our community going forward. That is the role of the challenger.

I am proud of the way we have handled this election. We have kept the process ‘above board’ and challenged facts while not degrading the campaign into personal attacks. When all is said and done and the results are in on election night, we will hold our head high regardless of the results. That’s the way it should be.

All of that said, I do think it is imperative to really talk about what has become a key difference in the way the Mayor and I see the role of the Mayor. He talks about helping to pay peoples’ rents that are in crisis and helping to move kids out of town due to the fear of gang violence. He talks about handing out fliers and posting temporary signs all around town to stimulate local business. While these are worthy and important, there are groups and organizations that can better fill those roles, rather than the Mayor.

The Mayor’s role is to help create the jobs and opportunities for individuals and families so no one has to help them pay their rent. It’s the Mayor’s role to work with our schools and recreation department to keep kids occupied and away from gangs where possible, and law enforcement when needed to keep the gangs out of the City. It’s the Mayor’s role to find ways to market our City locally and regionally to encourage people to shop, dine, and experience our City and stimulate business for the benefit of everyone.

Sure, there are events to attend and meetings to conduct but the Mayor has to be more than a friendly person. The Mayor has to have the vision and ability to unite and inspire the Council, the staff and our citizens. The Mayor needs to lead the City, to set goals and to accomplish them. The Mayor needs to pull a fractured City together so that everyone benefits. That’s what being Mayor means to me. That’s the role that I commit to as Marina’s next Mayor.

More later