When the mayor and City Council engage in pissing contests, everyone loses, including residents

BY STEVE MYRUM

I walk my dogs every day. 

I’ve got a pair of mini dachshunds, a male puppy and an old female. Naturally, the pup is out in front, lifting his leg to salute every tree and bush along the way. The old dog comes in from behind and has to do the same without the leg lift. 

This morning after the walk, as I disposed of two doggie poop sacks, I was struck at the similarities between

my dog walk and the seemingly never-ending bickering going on between Cheyenne’s mayor and members of the City Council. With one exception, the old female dog is leading the way and she insists on peeing on whatever first. 

And much like the walk, the citizens of Cheyenne are left holding the doggie bag.

The most recent pissing contest came about as a result of Mayor Marian Orr announcing she was declaring a state of emergency in order to appropriate a quarter million dollars to the construction firm of her choice to repair potholes in Cheyenne streets. She claimed there was not enough time to engage the council and the bidding process to finish the work by Nov. 1, and therefore she invoked her privilege to declare the emergency and spend the monies.

The next big leg lift came from Council President Rocky Case. He, and others, questioned whether the city’s pothole problem warranted such drastic action as a state of emergency declaration. Further, he questioned the propriety of awarding such a contract without council oversight and approval. 

The mayor responded with a memo or email to the council stating:

 “I act within state statute and city code. If there are those who don’t like it, change it, but attack the system we operate under, not the elected official carrying out the duties elected by the city to perform.”

Further she wrote:

“If the council wants to change that form of government to administrator/manager – I would support your efforts to place it on the ballot once again for the voters to decide.”

After hearing the mayor’s response to the council, folks are shaking their collective heads all over Cheyenne. 

How did we go from filling potholes in the streets to changing Cheyenne’s form of government? They say the number one reason cities change from a strong mayor/council form of governing to a city manager/council (weak mayor) form of government is because of rogue mayors. Orr is certainly enjoying and promoting her image as a rogue.

By now you should be feeling your left hand holding a couple of doggie doo sacks. That’s because we are faced with the fact that we have a rogue mayor who is double dog daring us to change the fundamental way in which the city operates. 

I haven’t seen any recent legitimate polls on the issue, nor was I involved in an apparent previous referendum on changing to a city administrator form of government. But I can guess city voters are divided on the issue. 

The current form allows voters to have direct access and accountability of elected officials through the power of their vote. The city manager form of government provides a more corporate feel with the city being managed professionally with accountability to the council, much like a CEO reporting to a board of directors. In the latter form, the mayor is essentially a ceremonial figure, perhaps driving a Dodge Ram and tossing princess waves to an adoring crowd.

What’s needed is a STRONG council, a STRONG mayor AND a STRONG city administrator.

You do not need to change the form of government, but you do need to make changes. The city can hire a professional administrator to assist the mayor and advise the council. 

The council has to be prepared. It needs to independently do its homework on issues confronting the city. It needs to start questioning department head reports, scrutinizing the numbers presented to it and start using good old common sense instead of sitting back swallowing everything it is told as though that is gospel.  

And last, a strong mayor. A strong mayor is a strong leader. Leadership is what’s needed in the mayor’s office.

A strong leader exhibits qualities of integrity, honesty and confidence, inspires others, can make decisions and builds inclusive working relationships with all the city stakeholders. A good leader also takes more than his or her share of the blame when playing the blame game.

Sadly, in politics today, elected officials, mayors and councils included, refuse to accept responsibility for their shortcomings. It’s always someone else’s fault when things go south.

Perhaps the next time our city officials are walking their dogs, they’ll think and be reminded of these words today and ask themselves if they are mimicking the behavior of their dogs and simply engaging in leg-lifting contests. 

Can the city have a stronger council? A mayor who can be a better leader? Can she be inclusive? Can she delegate authority to see the city managed better? 

Because if they don’t change, city votes will change it for them. Then they can go home with the doggie sacks.

Steve Myrum is a Cheyenne resident, retired after 45 years of federal, state and local government service.