11/24/2009 10:01:00 PM
Four new members join the ranks of Prescott City Council
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| Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier
City of Prescott City Clerk Liz Burke swears in councilmembers Steve Blair, Tammy Linn, Mayor Marlin Kuykendall,and councilmember John Hanna Tuesday afternoon in Prescott.
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PRESCOTT - Punctuated by applause, accolades, and a few tears, four new City Council members replaced departing members Tuesday afternoon.
In a swearing-in ceremony at the end of the regular voting session, new Mayor Marlin Kuykendall, and council members John Hanna, Tammy Linn and Steve Blair took the oath of office for the terms they won in the September primary and November general election.
The newcomers replaced outgoing Mayor Jack Wilson, and incumbent councilmen Bob Bell, Robert Luzius, and Bob Roecker.
The transition occurred in front of a packed city-hall chamber, with many audience members applauding as the departing members made their farewell comments, and as the new members lined up for a united swearing-in.
Although several of the officials referred to the 2009 city campaign as the "election from hell," the comments from the departing council members were largely positive - focusing on past accomplishments and hopes for the future.
Wilson, for instance, noted, "Even though I lost the election, I still believe in the city."
Wilson added that he and Kuykendall had agreed to work together to try to beef up tourism promotion in coming months.
Meanwhile, he expressed hope that the new council would "keep this ship in a straight line."
Luzius also focused on hopes for the new council. Fighting back tears, he urged the new members not to forget that the council works for the citizens. "I firmly believe that is what I have done," he added.
Acknowledging that "To say I am disappointed with the results (of the election) would be a gross under-statement," Luzius reminded his successors about the importance of a number of his priorities.
For instance, he mentioned open-space acquisition, the protection of the Verde River, and the preservation of the integrity of the Peavine Trail.
Bell's departing comments focused more on the city's accomplishments during his eight years on the council.
He listed a number of projects, including the downtown parking garage, the new Adult Center, the skate park, the library addition, the rodeo grounds acquisition, and the improvements to Iron Springs and Copper Basin roads.
In addition, Bell told the incoming council members that they should prepare to "give this job 110 percent, because that is what the citizens will expect."
After the meeting, Kuykendall noted that while the challenges facing the city were "enormous," he planned to "to do the things necessary to keep the community we so dearly love."
Along with the dozens of local residents, the audience also included a contingent from Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico, where Kuykendall owns a home.
After the meeting, the new mayor explained that he hopes to form a "compadre city" relationship between Prescott and the Sonora community.
Fausto César Soto Lizarraga, a spokesman for the group representing Puerto Peñasco Mayor Alejandro Zepeda, said the idea for the relationship formed as a way to promote reciprocal tourism between the two communities.
The day's ceremony also included awards to the departing members by three organizations.
First, Jeri Smith-Fornara presented Wilson with an award from the Citizens for the Protection of the Prescott Area, which recognized the outgoing mayor's "integrity, honesty, and (having) the best interests of the community at heart."
Wilson also received an award from the 2050 Visioning Committee for the work he did on the long-term community plan.
In addition, all of the departing members received awards from the local chapter of the United Yavapai Fire Fighters.
The new council's first action was the choice of Councilman Jim Lamerson as the mayor pro tem (vice mayor).
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
John Nixon
Congratulations, John Hanna! Sure seems a lifetime ago when we shot marbles on the playground at Lincoln School in the early 1960s. Now you are a leader in the community. Folks, I guarantee that if by chance you do not agree with John's future voting record, he will always act, speak and vote in what he believes is the best interests of Prescott.
Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009
Article comment by:
Mark
Joe, I agree, but the fact remains that Prescott has hurt any possibility of having good industries coming here. The reason is the city's catering to the "good ole boy" network. PV is also notorious for doing this. One family has control over the entire PV area. They want to monopolize the area, and they are doing a good job of that. This kills any outside business companies that want to come in. This kills any competition. These families have a stranglehold over the area. It's sad and pathetic.
Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009
Article comment by:
Joe
Mark, there will never be good jobs in Prescott or the Tri-city's unless and until there is some kind of industry located here that will provide those jobs and require supporting industries which would also provide good jobs. It ain't going to happen with the current economy and the Corp greed that is causing the movement of manufacturing to other Countries.
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Fred
Logical Leaders: Let's be careful about putting people down for their skepticism about climate change. In case you haven't noticed, there's a major news story unfolding right now about how key climate-research scientists may have been cooking the books to support their position regarding anthropogenic global warming.
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
You can't have too many.
Terrific! The first thing on the new mayor's agenda is to get us a THIRD sister city. Now that's getting your priorities in order...
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
110%?
"give this job 110 percent, because that is what the citizens will expect."
Tell me, how can you give more than 100%? You either give it all or a part of it. I realize this is just a well known phrase, but it is a dumb one to say the least. It's right up there with "went missing". Is that like "went shopping"?Anyway, good luck to the new mayor and council members. Please do something good for out city!
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Logical Leaders
I wonder how many on the council now are in denial about climate change is happening?
I know I heard Blair on the radio denying climate change because it was cold when he and his son were out hunting.
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Blare On
Sorry, Blair will be on the radio praising his achievments past and future, "doing the right thing for our community", meaning His Right.
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Mark
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Nothing new here folks. Our youth are fleeing the area due to lack of jobs, nothing to do, no long term careers available here. This town has no viable blue collar middle class. One has to go to PV or CV for that. Even then, it is lacking and it will eventually cause the tri-city area to become a stagnate, go nowhere, retirement town.
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Let the snide comments begin ...
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Hillary
Can someone tell me where Robert Luzius gets his pants?
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Biden
Does this mean the worse broadcaster in the history of broadcasting - Steve Blair - won't be heard on the local radio show anymore?
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Al Adab
We can empathize with Mr. Luzius for his emotional state in leaving Council. His heart is clearly with the City. Unfortunately that is part of the problem. Decisions made with the heart are all too often the incorrect ones. A rational, logical process gives clearer, more consistant direction. As I watched him list his priorities for the new Council, I felt a twing of sympathy, for he failed to realize that his very list was the reason the voters rejected his bid for re-election. His priorities are wrongly placed. The Vox Populi approach always fails for "The People," as Jefferson said, "are a great beast." Hard headed responsible spending is what our city needs. Let us hope the new Council; is successful in restoring budget discipline and economic strength to the community for all our benefit. We wish them well.
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Tom Steele
Congrats and condolences. The baton is passed. The people have spoken. Now, the citizens must live with their decisions. Hopefully, people will watch what they do and not just what they said they would do.
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