Mayor Waldron officiated at the last regular Council meeting of his term yesterday. We had a brief ceremony where he was presented with a resolution honoring his service to the community. There really wasn’t any time to offer remarks so I’d like to offer a bit here:
The Mayor has a few phrases and/or beliefs that he liked to mention from time to time and I thought they were insightful. The first was, roughly put, it isn’t real if it isn’t in the budget. The second is his belief that one of his major responsibilities was to make, by committee assignments and other methods, the Council members the best they could be.
After 2 years on the Council I can tell you that the first is undeniably true. Ain’t nothing real at City hall unless there are bucks associated with it. Talk all you want about something but unless dollars have been allocated, it isn’t going to happen. It took me a bit to really get my head around it but this little bit of advice is why Manassas Next was done the way it was.
As for making the Council members the best they could be, I would argue that he largely succeeded. With half of the Council being in their first term it took awhile longer than it might have otherwise but he was successful. The committees are working very smoothly and the budget process went pretty well (some would argue too well:).
Now, I’ve never served with another Mayor but I thought Mr. Waldron did a pretty damn good job. Surely, there were times where I wasn’t so happy about something he had done or said but, on balance, I expect he had more frequent occasion to be put out with me…:) So, I would like to thank Mr. Waldron for his service to his City and wish him well.
June 25, 2008 at 11:19 am
Andy,
I join you in thanking Mayor Waldron for his service and
wishing him well.
Doug is the fifth Mayor I’ve served with and he continued
a tradition of excellence in that position.
(Manassas operates under a city manager form of government
that can place great demands on a Mayor but gives that office
little official power – the holder isn’t allowed a veto, vote (except
in the case of a tie) or even to make or second a motion. To
exert strong leadership under those rules takes a special
individual).
June 25, 2008 at 3:39 pm
FYI – The ribbon cutting for the Old Town Manassas/VRE parking
deck is slated for tomorrow morning at 11. Mayor
Waldron is listed as one of the featured speakers.
(The facility will open for parking in mid-July
when final interior work is finished).
June 26, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Mayor Waldron gave a nice speech at the ribbon cutting this
morning – to close he put on his sun glasses and declared “we
all should wear shades since the future of Manassas is so bright!”
The actual “ribbon cutting” was Mayor-elect Parrish driving
a car through the ribbon and into the parking deck.
The facility is still being finished on the inside – elevators, etc –
and won’t be open for use until around August 1st. Please note
it is still a construction site and WILL NOT be open to even
foot traffic on July 4th – sorry.
The next big event in Manassas is the council’s organizational
meeting on Tuesday, July 1 at 5:30 PM – it will be at city hall.
Hal Parrish will be sworn in as Mayor and councilmembers
Wolfe, Smith and Way will also be sworn in for four year terms.
A reception is slated after the meeting. The public is invited.