Mayor looks to next chapter

Time waits for no one and being 70 years old, I have made some major decisions that will affect my life.

Retiring from public service was a difficult choice, as I thoroughly enjoyed being on the City Council for the past eight years. It was an honor to be selected by my peers to the positions of vice mayor and mayor twice during my tenure.

I will always treasure memories of the many ceremonies I attended just this year, representing Clayton at events like the Veteran’s and Memorial day services, the 12 Mayors’ Conferences, the fourth of July, Eagle Courts and Clayton Cleans Up, to name a few.

It was my pleasure to serve our residents. I will miss being on the City Council. Working with the city staff has been an experience I will never forget. I wish to especially thank city manager Gary Napper for the tutelage and guidance he extended me, using his 33 years of experience. I believe Napper is the best city manager in the county. He is the driving force who runs the city’s day-to-day operations.

I thank all the Clayton residents who have stopped me in the street, acknowledging and accepting my decision to retire. I am humbled by your kinds words. Several people even told me they voted for me as a write-in candidate. I have said it before and I will say it again: Local city politics is the truest form of the democracy we each cherish.

Many people have asked about my plans. I will continue to produce the 10 Saturday Concerts in the Grove Park. I will keep current on all Clayton happenings and attend as many events as I can. It will be a new experience to sit on the other side of the dais at council meetings and voice my opinion as a Clayton resident. I hope to encourage other Clayton residents to get more involved.

I plan on taking a year sabbatical from volunteering for new organizations and work on some of my home projects and my wife’s honey-do list. Debbie and I are plotting a long-deserved vacation to some far-off land. Without the time constraints of serial meetings, we hope to see our out-of-state children and grandchildren more often and spend more time with our local children and grandchildren.

You can be sure there are many more unwritten chapters left in my life, whether it be in public service or continuing my 42-year profession as a Realtor and property manager. I am certain I will continue working with Christmas For Everyone, raising funds and collecting coats and gently used clothing for those in need. There are files of ideas, half-written stories and maybe a few business opportunities I hope to complete.

It has been a wonderful journey of eight years on the Clayton City Council. I thank all who supported my efforts. Please know that my heart and actions were always focused on what’s best for Clayton.

I will see you at our summer concert series and around town.