Opinion from a former councilmember

Charlene Hagen served 12 years on the Ruston Town Council during the difficult years after the smelter closure. She offers her insight, experience and opinion here:

It is sad that Bradley begins his term with such prejudice and malice. He doesn't sound anything like the "community hero" Mary Joyce praised him for. It would have been better to address the public with his ideas on how to solve Ruston's problems than childishly limit how people may interact with the council. There will always be differing opinions, and there is value in those opinions. The variety, properly acted on, leads to a true government of the people.

Council meetings are business meetings. If you look over the past year you will see the small amount of business accomplished. There has been a lot of public comment and plenty of power struggles between the council and mayor. There have been orchestrated "shows" but there has been very little attention to serious issues facing the town and there has been little effort by elected officials to address them. You have large issues facing you. Do you think you can resolve them in your one and a half hours twice a month? Please tell me it isn't because you and your cohorts will have the issues decided before you take your seats and "officially" vote.

Bradley mentions public record requests. Why have there been so many? It is a measure of how unhappy people are with their town government. Sincerely work on the issues and I'll bet they reduce dramatically.

The government isn't broke but the people running it are. A different form of government is not going to stop the bitter arguments. The arguments need to be identified and addressed. Bradley's "rules of engagement" do not show a willingness to show leadership. I want a councilmember that is willing and ready to work for the good of the town. Being ready to fight isn't the way to do it.

Let me pass on some advice. Show that you are willing to learn what being a councilmember means. Learn your legal responsibilities, what state law requires and what will create liability for the town. Use your resources. Find a way to work with the mayor without letting him take over your rights. If something isn't right, don't be afraid to say so, but don't do it out of meanness. Become familiar with current issues. Know the faces behind your town government. Listen to your constituents. Remember that while you may have won an election many residents don't vote – and all residents count. And if you didn't win, remember that too. Don't be so petty that you can't be an asset to our town.

Now is the time to identify our needs and goals. Since our elected officials won't do it, let's use this blog to offer our opinions on things that are important to us and goals we have for our town.

Here's a few to start:
Fix fence bent over the sidewalk at the school
Parking lot broken up at the school
Fix our sidewalks
Refund meter deposits
Plan for sanitary and storm sewers
Painting center stripes on roadways
Upgrade buildings and equipments
Fix guard rails
Visible street signs
Paint the curbs

Charlene Hagen