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Marbury, White

The two incumbents deserve to be re-elected to the City Council

City Councilors Sweetie Marbury and Dick White have brought compassion and thoughtfulness to the Durango City Council. While markedly different people, they share a love of their community and a concern for its future, along with a demonstrated willingness to devote untold hours to getting things right.

They deserve to be re-elected.

That said, the choice was anything but automatic – or easy. This race brought forth two credible challengers, both of whom should be encouraged to stay involved in city affairs and perhaps to run again for a council seat. Both have a lot to offer.

Dave McHenry is a 37-year resident of Durango whose career path qualifies him to speak authoritatively about what it means to build a life in this town. He speaks knowledgeably about the key issues facing Durango and is not afraid to speak his mind. His urging that there be conversations on relocating the sewer plant reflects the fact that he is not afraid to be a contrarian.

He also shows flexibility. A long-time critic of the city’s handling of neighborhoods and accessory dwelling units, McHenry acknowledges that with the requirement that any property with an ADU must have an owner living on the premises, the absentee-owner issue has largely been diffused.

He should, however, also realize that a four-way council race is just that and not personalize his opposition. That skill that will come in handy if, as we hope, he continues his involvement in city affairs.

Sean Waddell is a newcomer to city politics, but a fourth-generation Durango native. He has extensive and successful experience in finance and corporate America. With that he would bring a numbers-based analytical approach to issues as varied as the need for a new sewer plant, a new airport terminal or the lodgers tax.

With that, he supports Question 1-A, saying that the city’s responsible track record with recreation justifies extending the tax. He would make redeveloping North Main a priority and recognizes that for any policy change, public input is crucial.

At the same time, Waddell’s balance-sheet approach has its limits. While recognizing that the Santa Rita area has been Durango’s gateway for 30 years, he would accept only a business case for moving the city’s sewer plant, without which, he says, the idea is crazy. Intangibles, however, also have value.

Waddell is in many ways highly qualified for the City Council. A couple more years dealing with city issues that do not lend themselves to a spreadsheet would make him extraordinarily so. The voters should look forward to hearing from him again.

Sweetie Marbury and Dick White will bring to the City Council not only the compassion and intelligence they brought four years ago, but the knowledge and understanding they have gained since. As in so many things, there is no substitute for experience – particularly when founded on an honest base of caring and commitment.

Have they pleased everyone? Of course not; no one can in that job. Both are nonetheless solid, conscientious councilors.

White brings an academic’s thoughtful penchant for thorough research and analysis. Agree or not with his conclusion, no one can accuse him of laziness or lacking the facts.

Marbury may sometimes seem to base too much on caring, but her concerns are heartfelt. And at all levels of government, there are too few voices whose first thought is of working and middle-class folk.

Choosing a city council candidate is also a question of how they fit into the council. Everything changes every two years, but for now, they are not only the best fit, but the best choice.

Re-elect Sweetie Marbury and Dick White to the Durango City Council.



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