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Past Wheeling City Leaders Offer Advice to New Officials

WHEELING — Encourage the public to get involved. Possess a common vision. And don’t expect change to happen overnight.

These are just some of the snippets of advice Wheeling leaders of years past have for Mayor-elect Glenn Elliott and the five new council members who will be sworn into office Friday.

Former Mayor Nick Sparachane said he plans to meet with Elliott and pass along knowledge he acquired while in office. He said it’s important for a mayor to encourage involvement from residents and business owners, as doing so generates energy which can spur economic and cultural development.

“Glenn has a great youth movement behind him, and I think that’s unique,” Sparachane said.

Like Elliott, Sparachane was a political newcomer when he took office in 2000, but he helped guide developments such as Celeron Plaza in Center Wheeling and the Stone Center downtown before his exit in 2008. He said these kinds of things are possible when a mayor, city council and city staff possess a common vision.

Former council members and former City Manager Will Turani expressed similar sentiments. They’re anxious to see what Elliott and the five new members of city council — Chad Thalman, Brian Wilson, Wendy Scatterday, Ty Thorngate and David Palmer — will accomplish.

They agree these individuals have a steep learning process ahead of them, but said the city’s staff — particularly City Manager Robert Herron — are more than capable of guiding these rookie representatives.

“It’s going to be slower than you dreamed it can be,” Larry Schmitt, 1st Ward councilman from 1996-2004, said of the pace of government. “Government can work well if people are willing to compromise and take half a loaf instead of a whole one.”

Schmitt said he accepted a great responsibility when he took office, and felt he needed to dedicate himself to honor it. He said the reason government can be slow to act is that the process of listening to community members can be laborious, though necessary.

He said it’s exciting to see younger people accept these duties.

Mike Nau, 5th Ward councilman from 1993-2008, said he stepped aside to make room for fresh representatives. He wanted to see new ideas, and still believes “you have to have a transition every once in a while, or you’ll never progress.”

He said Wheeling is an old community, and change isn’t an easy thing to introduce. He encouraged the newly elected officials to try, though.

“You have to let the city manager do his job,” Nau added.

Nau said Herron effectively communicates with council members, informing each of what’s taking place in the city. Although he’s the administrative authority, Nau said council members should openly voice feedback or concerns to the city manager, as this is their core responsibility as representatives of residents.

Will Turani, who served as city manager from 1997-2001, said it’s important for a mayor, council members and a city manager to understand their roles. He said the city manager runs the city on a day-to-day basis, while the mayor and council members oversee his performance.

He recommended council members actively participate in the city’s committees and commissions, such as development and public works. Turani said these meetings dive deep into the details of particular city issues, and enable a starting ground for new initiatives.

He said it’s critical that elected officials understand the procedure of governing, and he believes Herron will ensure they do.

“Everybody has the best intentions for the city of Wheeling,” Turani said. “End of the day, though, you’re judged on your results.”

Sparachane, eight years removed from public office, still sees the potential in public leadership. He said the city moved forward with he and Mayor Andy McKenzie at the helm, helped in large measure by the experienced and dedicated workers the city employs.

“Everybody that takes that job (mayor) are people that love the city, because it doesn’t pay well,” Sparachane said. “It’s the best chance you have of helping people.”

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