Abolitionist James Freeman Clarke said: “A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation.”
,Strategic thought is not flashy or exciting, but is integral for successful government and it is the unheralded work Dave Berger has done for years. Many remember his ingenuity and grit in saving the refinery or how he fought Washington over unfunded EPA mandates. Less noticed is the long-term planning that allowed Lima to weather the great recession without the safety service layoffs that plagued neighboring cities; the build-up of a world-class water supply system vital to industry; or the strategic placement of public projects over many years to create welcoming corridors to the city and a platform from which to launch downtown development.
What we need most from our mayor is not quick, knee-jerk decisions but careful, far-sighted planning. Aesop tells the tale of a thirsty crow who happens upon a pitcher of water. Unable to reach the water at the bottom, he begins dropping pebbles in one by one until the water level rises. The level is rising in Lima. Young families are moving here. Businesses are locating here: two announcements with 200-plus jobs just in the last month alone.
.Private investment in the downtown is happening. Our biggest workforce problem today is not a lack of jobs but more good jobs than we have ready candidates. This is not random good fortune but the fruit of hard work, one pebble at a time. Now is not the time to knock over the water pitcher. On Nov. 7th cast a vote for proven leadership and genuine planning, vote for Dave Berger.
Grant Sullivan, Lima
