Rich Cline, new Menlo Park mayor, promises measured approach to contentious land-use debates

Richard Cline- Soporific.

Hank, We're all waiting for you to announce your 2010 candidacy for the council.

We're eager to find out how you will fix all the problems that you say Rich and Heywood have created. And we're especially interested to see how you feel when people hurl the kinds of infantile, gratuitous attacks at you that you're so willing to throw at current council members.

So how about it, Hank? We're waiting.

Joan,
Don't hold your breath!

So Rich, keep on following your conscience, continue your commitment to transparency, and ignore petty critics who would rather attack than contribute constructively.

You won't make everyone happy all of the time, but as long as your motives are good and you keep your ear wide open for legitimate, thoughtful criticism and suggestions, you'll be a fine mayor who might even help reduce some of the rancor in this town.

I'm always gratified to see how we treat community service volunteers.

I think Rich Cline is just the right Mayor for this important year.

He's a pragmatic, moderate who asks good questions, listens to all sides and thinks for himself with the long term best interests of the whole City in mind. We are lucky to have someone on the Council who runs his own business and has to meet a payroll but also brings a good grounding in City government from his many years as a reporter covering East Bay Cities.

Let's give Rich a chance, people -- he has barely gotten started! Better yet, let's say "thank you" when he or others on the Council are doing things right. (Being on Council and especially being Mayor means putting in hundreds of hours to serve one's community but too often is a "thankless" job or even one where most of what you hear loudly is from those with a gripe).

Even when we disagree, in a town this small we should strive to do so in a civilized and considerate way, by sticking to the issues rather than demonizing the person.

All well and good. But how can he perform with innaccuate accounting information? Palo Alto had the good sense to fire it's budget manager after "forgetting" $4 million in expenses, what about Menlo Park's budget manager?

MP doesn't have budget manager, but thanks to councilman Cohen we now do have a finance audio committee. They have never been given much leeway. The council doesn't want them stepping on council or City Mnaager's toes. A really good idea would be to have this group investigate what is really going on here and give a report. We are never going to get the truth from staff.

I have nothing against Cohen, but anyone arguing this guy is a finance guy is crazy. He can be your friend and we can all respect Andy for what he brings to our city, but don't start the budget and finance talk. Cline and Boyle have miles of experience in comparison. Andy should get credit for holding the line for over development and for looking out for those who cannot look out for themselves, and that is a great resume.

Not finance and never the guy who made the audit committee happen. It only happened after the past election when the new folks came in and voted for it as well.

No one is arguing that Andy is a finance expert. He's not. But he is a savvy guy, and when he realized how sadly lacking our city was in financial expertise (ironic given how many residents make megabucks off their financial industry jobs) he assembled a budget committee.

That's what a true leader does -- doesn't pretend to know everything, but knows how to pull together people who have the background and experience to get the job done.

No knocks on Rich, by the way. Thrilled that he is in the driver's seat and Wayward is now just an ex-mayor.