Wanda Sets the Stage for Greatness

It’s only been a month.

I have to say, before taking office, I had no appreciation for the amount of work and responsibility that goes with being Mayor Wanda Moreno in this small, little hamlet.

Middle Valley is not a large city. To do this job right, it’s going to take a lot of attention.

I’ve been buried with minutiae – “to do” items that came in seemingly moments after earning the office. And those are in addition to items already on my list. All I’m doing is sorting and prioritizing and attempting to delegate.

That’s my whole life at this point.

I’m sure that, with the help from my staff and administration, I’ll dig my way out of the chaos and take control. Right now, the mountain of papers is quite daunting.

Most of my staff people are new to government. And, for all intents and purposes, I am, too, so we’ll be helping each other.

I’m anxious to get the structure in place, though, so I can be in a position to initiate some of the new programs that I ran on —- construction, tourism, island development, etc. The thing I am most excited about is shaping Middle Valley’s future, and I know we’re going to do just that.

Our biggest, most visible, and most important need is to light a spark under tourism, to do it immediately, and to do it with enthusiasm and vigor.

I offered Elyse the leadership position for the tourism bureau. She is experienced with people and will have the chance to flex a bit, get her away from the social work. Carson did a number on that for her, I feel, throwing his cash around and all. I think it would do her – and the community – good to have her in a new frame.

I recognize that the city needs someone in charge of security and related matters, such as disaster response planning and coordination, and related matters. I am sure that Silas will be a good fit for this position. I am, however, very worried that Silas may elect soon to leave Middle Valley and return to Albany for a new job there. I offered him the job without hesitation, and I believe he plans to take it.

This will be a new and defining chapter for Middle Valley. I think about all those years with Stu, so much unhappiness.

We are a long way from that now.