Letter to the Editor: A mayor for the mundane

Morton Marcus is a retired IU economics professor who writes a column that appears weekly in the Evansville Courier. On Sunday, October 4th, he focused his column on mayors.

“Give me an Indiana mayor who tackles the mundane,” he wrote.

He characterized the campaigns of most candidates for mayor as touting their family history and values; trumpeting how much they love their city; and, promising to be honest, frugal and wise in spending people’s money. He questioned campaign statements that addressed job creation, social engineering, and reducing taxes. Instead, he wants to vote for a person who will attend to snow removal, fixing potholes, and avoiding nepotism in hiring practices.

Huntingburg and Jasper are led by mayors who have spent the last four years as highly visible salesmen for their communities. Each has used the input of many city residents in fashioning their plans and has addressed issues of growth and development and improving the quality of life for city residents. While focusing on the future, they have not neglected the “mundane.” Streets and sidewalks, water and sewers, parks and police protection, all have had the attention of the mayors.

While I agree with Dr. Morton that mayors are limited in their authority by State law and by having to deal with other layers of government, I do not agree that mayors need only focus on basic city functions.

Give me a mayor who leads.

Give me a mayor who thinks strategically.

Give me a mayor who is actively involved in regional and State initiatives.

Give me a mayor who believes our community can be great.

Give me a mayor who is an innovator not satisfied with how things have been but is asking, “what can be?”

Our two Dubois County mayors have not played it safe by maintaining the status quo.  They have stepped out and looked up and in virtually all of their proposals they have had the unanimous support of their councils.  They manage the “mundane” while seeing a larger picture.

Re-elect Mayor Denny Spinner and Mayor Terry Seitz.

Don Hayes
Dubois County GOP Chairman