Editorial: Mayor is important post in Red Wing

How many people will cast ballots in the special Red Wing mayoral election Tuesday? The answer is anybody's guess.

The turnout doesn't look promising, based on unscientific poll results. Only 48 people responded to the past week’s R-E online poll and, of those, only seven people say turnout will exceed 50 percent.

Worse, a quarter of respondents don’t intend to vote. They answered a web poll but won’t head to the polls to cast a genuine vote.

The interest in the mayor’s race hasn't been there.

Perhaps people need a reminder on how valuable, controversial, important (you can add your own adjective) the mayoral post can be.

John Howe certainly taught citizens the position brings political power. People can no longer use weak-mayor, strong-council system to describe Red Wing because Howe used the veto pen quite effectively to achieve his goals during two short years in office.

Donna Dummer, his predecessor, used the job to reignite public pride. Her Imagine Red Wing campaign engaged citizens and, however unintentional, set the stage for the citizen-driven effort that should keep the riverfront “green” and public for years to come.

In the 1980s, Joanell Dyrstad sat at the helm. She used powers of persuasion to spur public-private projects, especially downtown.

Whoever steps into the mayor’s office — Dennis Egan or Stan Nerhaugen — the ultimate power rests with the people. Use it, fellow citizens, at the polls on Tuesday.

Tags: red wing, opinion, editorial, elections, mayor