Editorial: Who would be mayor?

Dennis Egan’s stepping down is in the best interests of his family, his career and his community. While we wish he’d had the wisdom and foresight not to become executive director of the new Minnesota Industrial Sand Council, he did, and the resulting debate over holding both posts escalated to the point of a near lynching.

Well, it’s over ... or is it?

The imminent departure of a popular public official (remember, he won both a special election and re-election by substantial margins) should prompt Red Wing citizens to ask themselves some searching questions.

• Are we in danger of letting one issue overshadow every other matter?

• Would Egan have taken such a beating if he’d accepted a job with an anti-fracking council?

• Did anyone so aghast over the longtime professional lobbyist leading the sand council look at any of his existing clients before electing him?

• What does it say about our community that respected individuals feared speaking up for a man who invited citizen input, fought for a cleaner Mississippi River, promoted business and served on a mayoral association’s national executive council?

• What type of person, then, do we want in public office? Do we want people who have no outside interests, no involvement, who will rubber-stamp professional bureaucrats’ agendas?

That’s not how democracy works best.

Which then begs this question: Why would any sensible person want to be mayor? Or serve on a city council, county board, town board or school board? Why, indeed.

Tags: opinion, editorial