Simply put, it’s important for a Mayor in Roanoke to be seen and be friendly with Roanokers.
For a democracy, it’s important for our elected representatives to be accessible and responsive. It is by “us” keeping tabs on “them” that we make sure that “they” are doing what “we” want our local leaders to do.
Although I don’t always agree with his political stance, 6th District United States Congressman Bob Goodlatte is visible and accessible. He’s always at community events, holds town meetings throughout the district he represents, his staff is attentive and helpful on constituent issues, and he’s friendly and listens to us, the people.
It’s important to us here in Roanoke, I think, for our city leaders to be like that, too. There should be, for example, an “open house” in the Mayor’s Office on regular occasions...and in the City Manager’s Office, too. Our council members should not shy away from being with us in public. We want them to be out among us. After all, they’re just like us! We think it’s more than a “photo op” when our elected representatives join us in cleaning up the Roanoke River, helping entertain area children with gifts at Christmastime, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and visiting our neighborhood civic groups’ summer picnics.
That’s what democracy is all about...all of us getting to know each other and working together in a friendly way. To rebuild trust between our citizens and our city government, we need a mayor, council members and city administrators who are visible, accessible, responsive...and friendly!
Sure, we will have disagreements, but we Roanokers must send a message that we will not tolerate our leaders being disagreeable, unavailable and unresponsive.
This current City Council seems able and willing to solve problems on their own. We need someone in there to “lay down the law” and insist on friendly, cordial public dealings with each other...and our people. My friend and colleague, Vice Mayor Dave Trinkle said it well: "No more camps on Roanoke City Council."
We need friendly people who want to hear us. We need friendly leaders who like being with us, and us with them.
Our Mayor and council members should be friendly with each other, and us. That’s how we heal the divisions in our city.