Clark-West, Finn-East

The two alderman races are very similar. Two veteran city legislators facing opponents who have no city government experience. Two citizens who have attended countless public meetings on your behalf versus two who found it expedient to attend meetings beginning in January of this year after they filed their candidacy. Two have time on their hands to be able to serve, two have made time in their lives to serve. Who will you choose when the reins of city government change hands at the next Board of Alderman meeting?

Tanya Finn stepped forward and was appointed by the Board to fill the vacancy Steve Clark left when he moved from the East to the West ward. Her active involvement in the community made her an ideal person to fill the gap. Since then she has served ably. She takes her job seriously. If you want to know how the City spends your tax dollars, ask Tanya. She painstakingly reviews each invoice and bill the City pays every month. Why? Because she feels another set of eyes on expenditures is time well spent. She is unafraid to speak her mind. She is truly looking out for you and me. Ironically her opponent, Brian Stevenson, has only good things to say about Tanya. He has no quarrel with her service as alderman. He simply believes it is his turn to serve.

Steve Clark would still be on the Board, in my opinion, if it weren't for the fact he moved from the East Ward to the West Ward. A very popular veteran alderman, Steve helped the City navigate through some pretty tough financial times. He has a keen budgetary eye, I can recall many times when he caught a budget detail that escaped others. He has been an outspoken critic of some of the development around us, the so-called Owens development in particular. He lent his talent and skills to the Anders-Jack Cemetery project, just ask Marge Stockwell. Gene Roberts will certainly leave a void for the West Ward as he leaves office. I can think of no better replacement than Steve Clark.

Vic Dejong stopped by last night, we had a nice talk. My impression is he is just getting an appreciation for the challenges facing the City. My recommendation to Vic is to make himself available for appointment to a board or commission. Learn the business of the City well. If he does, I think he would be a great candidate for the Mary Hoy seat in 2009.

I'd give the same advice to Brian Stevenson. Get involved, come forward with specific ideas on how to make the city better. I think he could be a great candidate for his sister's seat, Pat White, in 2009.