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<br />. <br /> <br />administrator. Actually if pressure from the council was made behind <br />the scenes it could have been argued by some (obert & linke types) that <br />we truly were working with an agenda and outside of the public view. <br />The only way that the argument would stop and the legal mumbo-jumbo <br />would be neutered was to have the council order things to be done. That <br />takes legal and city staff out of the picture REGARDLESS of their <br />personal or professional opinions. They were given an order and now <br />must follow it. Trust me, they are. <br /> <br />I want to ask of you both as a friend first and fore most, as well as <br />mayor and the chair of council meetings that you try to remain cool, <br />calm and collected during the meetings. Julie, I will admit to you that <br />although I was planning for several days to find a way to get the term <br />limits issue back on track - once the "all government officials are <br />corrupt bastards" group started accusing me of a variety of things, I <br />truly considered simply not making my motion and let the whole damn <br />thing just spin its wheels. At a personal level I had to wonder why the <br />hell I should stick my neck out for the same people who apparently view <br />me as some sort of corrupt, uncaring, disengaged city leader. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />But, in contrast to all of the accusations thrown at me by Ruth Berke <br />and others, I set aside my personal feelings and indeed try to do what <br />is best for the city. I resolved that although it would be personally <br />gratifying to "screw" those who take every ounce of fun out of those <br />meetings - the issue wasn't about me or them...it was about getting the <br />charter stuff cleared up and behind us. And so, I made the motion and <br />restated it over and over and over for Roger until I could basically <br />recite it by memory. <br /> <br />You may take exception with me on this due to different perceptions- <br />but do not lose sight of the fact that Roger voted against the motion <br />which went a long ways to dealing with this and that Gary who has been <br />against this stuff voted for it. I may have worked hard behind the <br />scenes to find a way to get that motion made - but Gary and Lynne passed <br />the damn thing. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I have sacrificed far more for this underfunded, thankless job than for <br />virtually anything else in my life. My family needs me. My work and <br />employees need me. I love to garden but even that one single hobby that <br />I love so dearly is sacrificed on the altar of this position. I go to <br />meetings that last hours and hours just to make sure our city is <br />properly represented - and that regional planning doesn't go on without <br />us or around us. I have used up almost all of my vacation days to do <br />city work - testifying day after day at the state capitol in regards to <br />the airport noise issue. That was not how I wanted to spend my vacation <br />days I can assure you. If I want to spend a day with my family now, I <br />must do it without pay - a further sacrifice on my family's part for the <br />goal of having me mayor. I hope you can at least see why being attacked <br />on camera really does kick my teeth in and destroys any desire I have to <br />continue to sacrifice for this cranky, negative city. <br />8/1/99 <br /> <br />Page 2 of3 <br />