Lon Kellstrom, Pat Thompson and Jerry Bogart are in on the Sisters City Council. Mayor Brad Boyd is out.
Too bad about Boyd. He had his negatives, mostly involving style, but he had a strong grasp of the job and was diligent in doing the work. Some good things happened in the City of Sisters under his impetus and I think the citizens who voted him out will miss his efforts, whether they realize it or not.
It's always hard to put a finger on what exactly sways the electorate, but let's assume that the Kellstrom, Thompson, Bogart argument that Sisters needed a change in leadership and attitude, especially in the area of economic development, resonated with voters.
There's some merit to the idea that attitude alone is important; certainly it can be argued that Sisters has over the years (before as well as during Boyd's tenure) alienated some players who could have an impact on economic development. Perhaps that can be fixed to our benefit. Perhaps the idea of creating a position of Economic Development Director is a good one and perhaps a new council can deliver on it (I'm still not sold on that, but I'm willing to be convinced).
Regardless, I think the "economic development slate" is going to find it hard going; that the gap between desire and achievability on their ideas for economic development is wider than they realize.
All three are good men and have the best interests of the whole community at heart. The idea that they represent "Californication" is misplaced. Sisters has not sold its soul to "The Developers." Quality economic development, filling the industrial park with clean, innovative enterprises with good-paying jobs would be a very good thing for Sisters. Hopefully, the new council can preside over that very scenario.
But ask the owners of industrial park properties; that's easier said than done.
I hope the new councilors and the re-elected Kellstrom recognize that they have created expectations in the community that are going to be hard to meet.
They've signed on for a big job.
Jim Cornelius, Editor
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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This local election was an odd one, and made for strange bedfellows.
ReplyDeleteRelatively speaking, we're newcomers to Sisters. We have a family, school age kids, and decent jobs. We are socially liberal and fiscally moderate. We've traveled, lived abroad, made our home in large cities. We voted for Obama, and cheered the Blue victory across the country.
And we support this new council. We like growth in this town. We don't approve of all methods, and we don't trust developers as a rule. But when it comes right down to it, this town has improved in our eyes over the past few years as newcomers have joined us.
I know there is a lot of self interest in this new group. And some views that I find backward, cynical, and naive. But if they want to bring new people into the mix, we approve.
Preserving Sisters phony old-west facade is not our goal. Frankly, we find it tacky. Preserving the real treasure...our natural surroundings...that is critical. Yes, we're environmentalists. To a degree. And capitalists. We know the only value in this town is what surrounds it, and the people who live here.
Hopefully the national and state power change will protect us from our new council should they forget the real economic value of Sisters. And, hopefully, the new arrivals will see the value in supporting our schools. One day, though I barely dare dream it, we'll have a town full of curious, smart, open minded people who celebrate diversity.
Funny how things turn out.
You Said: Some good things happened in the City of Sisters under his impetus and I think the citizens who voted him out will miss his efforts, whether they realize it or not.
ReplyDeleteThe citizens that voted him out have, for the most part, never attended a city council meeting, workshop or town meeting. If they did they would have voted for Brad. Regardless of his style, he did an excellent job of managing the council, the direction of the city and working for and in a 'thankless' job.
>> One day, though I barely dare dream it, we'll have a town full of curious, smart, open minded people who celebrate diversity.
ReplyDeleteParaphrased:
Someday, we Californians can see a landscape free of tacky Sisters "rednecks" and full of people who think JUST LIKE US.
OMG.
"phony old-west facade ... Tacky". Some of us who have been here for decades help build that phony facade. I am sure we will be here long after you leave, because generally you do leave given time.
ReplyDeleteThat old west design is part of what makes Sisters unique. Along with the 'curious, smart, open minded people' who live here and accept the diversity that all the new comers are bringing to town. I remember the days when locals would run those with CA license plates off the road!
ReplyDeleteNot everyone is happy with the outcome. That's just fine.
ReplyDeleteMuch like what's happened on the national political scene: let us all help the City Council when we agree with them on specific issues and voice our federally protected dissent when we don't agree with them.
The new councilors want no more and no less.
Michael Preedin, Sisters