Burlington is still not ready for a full-time mayor. That’s both a political reality and a practical conclusion.
The City Council this week rejected Mayor Ed Brunz’s proposal to make the job full-time and nearly triple the $24,000 annual salary that goes with it. Part of his reasoning was that with a full-time mayor, Burlington could get by without a city administrator — when Jon Aarstad retires — by redistributing that position’s responsibilities.
It’s difficult to see how that would help the city. In his decadelong tenure, Aarstad has proved the worth of a city administrator position that is filled by a qualified professional. His steady effectiveness argues strongly for a continuation of that role. Councilman Bill Aslett recalled that a roughly four-year span that the city went without an administrator was a “miserable failure.” There’s no need to revisit that experience.
Former Mayor Gus Tjeerdsma had made a similar proposal that was no more convincing and got no further than Brunz’s. We won’t speculate on Brunz’s motives beyond saving the city money, but we suggest that the full-time mayor issue be put to rest until a much more compelling case can be made.
• Editorials reflect the consensus opinion of the editorial board and are written by its members: Publisher L. Stedem Wood, Editor Don Nelson and City Editor Dick Clever.
Burlington does just fine with part-time mayor
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Editorial Board | Skagit Valley HeraldSeptember 27, 2008 - 10:00 PM
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