It’s time to select two new city councilors, and while Dick White was probably a great astronomy professor, his time on City Council has not been all that great. While Dick is a decent guy, his almost one-track fascination with sustainability and the bag ban divert attention from the serious issues we have approaching fast; things like the airport and sewer-plant expansion, ADU issues as well as many budget and finance items. While a minority of people have blackmailed City Council into agreeing to manage several parks as “chemical free” zones, the weeds have thrived to a point that even Mayor Marbury wants green grass underfoot instead of thistles. Dick White wants to focus on “organically managed” parks as well as his own sustainability policy.

No one wants unnecessary chemicals used in the city’s parks, but we also want a City Council that will stand up to a small vocal minority and do what is right for the grass our kids play on and save the taxpayers’ money. Remember that just Riverview Park going off the “organically managed” list will save the city $45,000 annually.

Dick also stated on Nov. 6, 2013, in regard to the plastic bag tax/ban, “As soon as we finish frying the bigger fish of waste management, we’ll come back and visit this again.” Really, Dick? The bag issue was resolved by the voters – 59 percent against. It’s childish to dismiss the voters who have spoken. When Dick has a link to the UN Climate Change newsroom, calling for “orderly fossil-fuel divestment,” it calls into question how he supports the thousands of energy jobs we have in this county and the employees who live in Durango who hold those jobs.

I think it’s time for a more balanced City Council that doesn’t just have energy decline and bag bans on their minds. I am supporting Sean Waddell, who, with his finance and business background, will help successfully lead us through the upcoming financial issues, while having the vision to support the majority of Durango’s voters, not just the single-issue groups.

Arthur Wyman

Durango