With Saline City Council elections less than two weeks away now, local residents have had any number of opportunities to learn more about the four candidates vying for three open seats.
In some cases, each has set his own agenda. In others, responded to more structured queries, apples-to-apples. Look for what we have gleaned from them in an exclusive Saline Journal series that starts next week.
Setting the stage for that, we approached three members of this community who have themselves served on Saline City Council over the last fifty years. Some names more familiar than others, with perspectives differring in ways that are both obvious and subtle. All still residents of this community, passionately committed to encouraging best next steps for Saline.
Each was asked the same seven questions.
First up, David Rhoads.
As a small business owner, Mr Rhoads moved his operation to this community in 1999, became a resident two years later. He served on Saline City Council for ten years, the last three of which as Mayor Pro Tem, until relatively recently — in 2016.
Saline Journal: “Describe the appropriate role of ‘local government.'”
David Rhoads: “There are various opinions on what local government should do.
City government needs to provide guidelines under which residents can live and work and enjoy the community they live in. Sometimes these are fixed in stone. But I’ve never been a fan of over-regulation.
Saline Journal: “How would you describe ‘Saline Politics’ to an outsider?”
David Rhoads: “This community is small enough that people generally know their Council Members personally. Members are pretty much in tune with what they’d like to have. Council Members generally get along well with each other and staff.”
Saline Journal: “What trait or approach do you think made you most effective during your time as a part of City Council?”
David Rhoads: “My ability and willingness to look at both sides when something came up. I think I can strike a balance. I’m a centrist.
I care about a lot of things. But I’m not so passionate that I can’t listen to other ideas.
I had a business ownership background, which most people don’t have. So they don’t have that as a perspective to evaluate proposals. That’s what most people tend to mention when they say they miss me on Council.
Saline Journal: “Is there ‘something bigger’ — perhaps timeless — that you believe could be viewed as a unifier for this community?”
David Rhoads: “We have a culture in this community of caring about each other and this community at large. Though there may be evidence that is eroding as the community gets larger.”
Saline Journal: “Where did you draw the line between your responsibility to make decisions based on unique access to informatiom on issues and following popular will of citizens?”
David Rhoads: “That’s the difficult part of being a member of Council. Put aside how things get personal on the Internet. One must be respectful of other Council Members and staff — even if you disagree or take a different position.”
Saline Journal: “Out side of Saline, what is your favorite town in Michigan? why?”
David Rhoads: “I like Chelsea. Chelsea has a very active, vibrant downtown — mostly due to the theater and Common Grill. It’s far enough from Ann Arbor to have a small town feel. [1-3]
Additionally, each former Saline City Council Member was offered the opportunity to put forth a question of their own and then answer it for publication here.
David Rhoads: “Why do I love Saline?
Answer: “Because the people are caring, friendly. The community is well run, forward-thinking.
This is the longest place I’ve ever lived in one spot. It sort of reminds me of the community I grew up in in Texas: Brownfield, Texas. [4]
Read Part 2 of this series here tomorrow, Part 3 on Friday.
References
- City of Chelsea, Michigan (home page).
- Purple Rose Theater (home page).
- The Common Grill (home page).
- City of Brownfield (home page).
