Letters
Thank You, Mayor Haakenson
Published on Thu, Jun 10, 2010 by Michael R. JenningsRead More Letters
Editor:
I may be only one voice but I firmly believe that I represent the feelings of many of your fellow residents of Edmonds when I say that your prior years of service to our community will be sorely missed.
Yes, you have had your share of detractors over the years but, then again, what politician worth his/her salt hasn’t!
In fact, I recall a few years back remarking to you about the “negative things constantly said about even the best of politicians.”
At the risk of misquoting your exact words, I believe you said something back to me to the effect that, “Yes, it hurts sometimes on a personal level but, the positive comments, the things that I have accomplished while in office, along with the feedback I’ve received over the years from fellow citizens, far outweigh any and all of the negative comments that I have heard—comments that are generally driven by people with selfish and/or political agendas in mind.”
You also mentioned something about being thick-skinned but, at the time, I just figured that you were referring to all those many years of soaking up that Arizona sun that you and Dolly love so much.
As you know far better then I, or most residents for that matter, serving in a political capacity is a fine art, a balancing act if ever there was one.
There are approximately 45,000 of us that you serve…and that could potentially represent 45,000 differing agendas.
As if that wasn’t bad enough you also had to work with seven council members—all of whom are obviously very opinionated in what they want to see accomplished during their individual tenures in office.
And then, of course, one cannot forget to include the multitude of employees that directly/indirectly worked both for you and with you.
They were ultimately the ones that have cast you in a ‘good light’ during your many years as mayor—for it has been through their individual efforts that this city has hummed along as well as it has over the years (lousy economy not withstanding).
And over the years you have repeatedly recognized their contributions to the overall functioning of your administration.
Praising fellow employees does not distract from your individual contributions to the citizens of Edmonds as much as it encompasses who you are.
Your style of leadership—low-key, participative, listening to all sides, putting the good of others before your own, etc, —are why we have a vibrant community today.
And to think that you have served all these years while maintaining the highest levels of integrity.
So, on behalf of your fellow citizens, thank you for all of your contributions, both recognized and unrecognized.
We will miss your daily contributions to our lives on a local level but will hopefully experience the same on a county-wide level.
The best to you and Dolly from all of us that are grateful for your years of service to the citizenry of Edmonds.
Michael R. Jennings
I may be only one voice but I firmly believe that I represent the feelings of many of your fellow residents of Edmonds when I say that your prior years of service to our community will be sorely missed.
Yes, you have had your share of detractors over the years but, then again, what politician worth his/her salt hasn’t!
In fact, I recall a few years back remarking to you about the “negative things constantly said about even the best of politicians.”
At the risk of misquoting your exact words, I believe you said something back to me to the effect that, “Yes, it hurts sometimes on a personal level but, the positive comments, the things that I have accomplished while in office, along with the feedback I’ve received over the years from fellow citizens, far outweigh any and all of the negative comments that I have heard—comments that are generally driven by people with selfish and/or political agendas in mind.”
You also mentioned something about being thick-skinned but, at the time, I just figured that you were referring to all those many years of soaking up that Arizona sun that you and Dolly love so much.
As you know far better then I, or most residents for that matter, serving in a political capacity is a fine art, a balancing act if ever there was one.
There are approximately 45,000 of us that you serve…and that could potentially represent 45,000 differing agendas.
As if that wasn’t bad enough you also had to work with seven council members—all of whom are obviously very opinionated in what they want to see accomplished during their individual tenures in office.
And then, of course, one cannot forget to include the multitude of employees that directly/indirectly worked both for you and with you.
They were ultimately the ones that have cast you in a ‘good light’ during your many years as mayor—for it has been through their individual efforts that this city has hummed along as well as it has over the years (lousy economy not withstanding).
And over the years you have repeatedly recognized their contributions to the overall functioning of your administration.
Praising fellow employees does not distract from your individual contributions to the citizens of Edmonds as much as it encompasses who you are.
Your style of leadership—low-key, participative, listening to all sides, putting the good of others before your own, etc, —are why we have a vibrant community today.
And to think that you have served all these years while maintaining the highest levels of integrity.
So, on behalf of your fellow citizens, thank you for all of your contributions, both recognized and unrecognized.
We will miss your daily contributions to our lives on a local level but will hopefully experience the same on a county-wide level.
The best to you and Dolly from all of us that are grateful for your years of service to the citizenry of Edmonds.
Michael R. Jennings