Sisters should elect its mayor

This is no way to start a new year and a new city council.

The first act that brand-new city councilor David Asson will take Thursday night will be divisive. It's not his fault; he's the presumptive swing vote in a choice between Lon Kellstrom and Sharlene Weed for the mayor's seat on the council. Asson has already indicated that he will not support Weed for the position, but any way he votes puts him crosswise with somebody right off the bat, despite best intentions to be a unifying force.

By charter, the city council selects the mayor after each election. The idea is that the mayor is merely "first among equals" rather than a separately elected chief. That's fine for a small city with little politics. But that's not what Sisters is anymore.

Like it or not, Sisters has politics - strongly held diverging positions on issues ranging from economic development to the manner in which the city should conduct its business. That means the old way of selecting the mayor is outmoded.

Council selection of the mayor sets the body up for infighting and gamesmanship which erodes the body's ability to work together. Direct election eliminates one divisive element.

The citizens should decide who they want to be the face of the city and a four-year term will give the position built-in continuity. Direct election makes the will of the citizenry clear and gives the mayor a mandate. It also makes the mayor more accountable for the manner and style of his or her conduct of the city's affairs.

It would take a charter amendment to change the method of the mayor's election - something that many in the City of Bend are also advocating for the same reasons. It's an idea whose time has come.

Jim Cornelius, Editor