A 'weak mayor' would be a strong move

It's time for Sandpoint's next elected mayor to be the last one.

More accurately, this should be the last time Sandpont voters elect a mayor who is supposed to oversee a city bursting at the seams and only pay him or her $1,000 a month.

It's time for a full-time city administrator and what is called a "weak mayor" form of government.

Mayor Miller has done an admirable job. A quick glance at his appointment book shows anyone he is pretty well booked at least six days a week and sometimes up to 12 hours a day doing what a mayor does.

So far only Gretchen Hellar has tossed her hat into the ring to be the next mayor. I assume Miller will jump in soon and I won't be totally surprised if Councilman Steve Lockwood wants to make a run at it.

In past elections, we have had white separatists and a woman who painted her face four colors when she was in public. One only has to wonder what Sandpoint would have been like if Vincent Bertollini had been elected.

There are serious issues facing Sandpoint. Affordable housing, the flight of business out of Sandpoint, traffic woes, the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association, the Sand Creek Byway, regionalization of water and sewer, parking issues, are just a few on the top of a very long list.

A city administrator would be one step removed from the petty bickering that has all but paralyzed the Sandpoint City Council.

A city administrator should be well versed in growth and planning. He or she should be someone who can bring a city together, rather than be a part of the partisanship.

There are many cities that have turned to a weak mayor system and its something Sandpoint should consider.

Better yet, it's something Sandpoint's next mayor should consider. Sandpoint voters also might want to ask their candidates where they stand on the idea of having a city administrator.

David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee.