Dear Editor,
Somehow there are those who believe that experience on the city council is either a prerequisite to or a huge advantage in a run for the mayor’s office. Au contraire.
As a resident of 68 years, I’ve followed city politics for at least 50 of those years. I can tell you unequivocally that the three of the four best mayors Sandpoint has had in the past five decades have been Sally Cupan (1980-83), Marian Ebbett (1984-1987) and Ron Chaney (1988-1991 and 1994-95). Ray Miller could have been appointed in 1994 but magnanimously declined because he was teaching full time. Ray is the only one of the four that had any previous experience on the city council. Sally, Marian and Ron had never been on city council before being elected to the mayor’s office—had not even attended city council meetings!
It doesn’t take experience at city hall to do a good job in the mayor’s office. It takes integrity. Combine that with a love for our community and a desire and a willingness to engage others who share those attributes and hopefully the right person will sit in that office. But in order for that to happen, you have to vote!
Helen Newton
Sandpoint
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