Three candidates interviewed for council

Chuck Ryan, Amy Burgstahler, and Bill Hall all threw their hat in the ring for the Sisters City Council seat vacated by McKibben Womack. City Council members interviewed the candidates in their Thursday-morning workshop last week.

Each possesses an impressive résumé and wide-ranging experience that would serve the City well.

When asked what motivated him to apply for the vacant seat, Ryan cited his love affair with Sisters. He moved here to retire and has "lots of energy," and wants to stay involved. He has a long career in financial management, believing it important to look at all sides of an issue or project. He likes to dissect and analyze issues, and then build consensus.

Important issues that Ryan sees facing the City in the next two to three years include "the need for Council to regain the trust and respect of the populace." He believes that sound finances are important, and he would be able to offer his strong financial background as needed. He cited economic development as being important for the city to grow but at the same time, "we need to be environmentally sensitive."

Ryan views Sisters as "a volunteer-based city."

"How do we keep (the citizens) energetic and motivated?" he wondered.

Ryan believes that the role of a City Councilor is multifaceted and that the Council acts as a board, "taking input from different sectors, and making informed decisions without bias or special interest, for the benefit of the city." He sees a functioning Council using teamwork, reaching consensus, and having credibility.

If selected, Ryan would look forward to being an active team member who could serve as a resource and offer unbiased opinions.

Relative newcomers to Sisters, Amy Burgstahler, her husband and son, are building a house in Pine Meadow Village. She loves living here, has experienced "amazing warmth" and the sense that "people have your back." Sisters feels to her like a safe, neighborly place and now that her son is in school she wants to "find ways to give back to the community."

Burgstahler describes herself as having a good temperament and being a good listener. She would use her consensus-building abilities and strong communication skills to get in front of issues.

"Through leadership and communication" she thinks it is possible to "win buy-in and make others evangelists for Sisters."

Her background as a creative director, marketing and community-relations coordinator and journalist helped when she was asked what the Council can do to maximize community awareness, understanding, interest and feedback on issues and decisions which must be made. She sees The Nugget as a natural avenue for communicating with the citizens, as well as the radio station and regular public-relations alerts about Sisters. She views the City website as a possible "news center" and a place to "talk vibrancy" and looking forward.

Burgstahler believes that trust-building and honoring our heritage are important considerations for the Council when making decisions. When looking at issues she thinks Sisters faces over the next several years, she mentioned the Barclay/Highway 20 roundabout, of which she is in favor. She sees the need to "peel back the emotions and talk logically" about the roundabout.

Trade-sector growth and increasing residency are two factors she sees as necessary for the health of the community while ensuring that the economic development is guided by "smart growth." She thinks making the citizens feel they are heard is key to getting their support.

Bill Hall, who has served for the last year as the chairperson of the Community Assets Committee (CAC), said he would like to continue to contribute now that he will have more time, as the work of the CAC winds down.

With 40 years in engineering and project management, Hall sees himself as a realist who is able to exercise judgment. He describes himself as a persistent hard-worker who "stays in the trenches through a whole project." He makes his decisions analytically, based on facts, not emotion or supposition. He has a strong background in problem-solving and process improvement.

Hall said he would be able to "hit the ground running" as he has read the past minutes of Council meetings to bring himself up to speed on current issues before the Council.

Being retired, he has the time to devote to Council duties. When asked how he would handle the stress of being in the public eye, Hall replied, "I enjoy it. It decreases boredom in life. It's how we mature."

He added, "I learn a lot from people I disagree with."

Council will discuss the candidates and make their selection at the 6 p.m. workshop on Thursday, May 14.