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Vice mayor joins race for Patton's job
(by Sue Reid - March 26, 2009)
Vice mayor joins race for Patton's job
By SUE REID
Solon Councilwoman Susan A. Drucker announced this week she has pulled petitions and will run for mayor this fall.
A 15-year Solon resident, Mrs. Drucker has served as vice mayor for the past two years. A City Council member for the past six years representing Ward 1, she chairs council's finance committee.
Also running for the top seat are Mayor Kevin C. Patton and former Mayor Robert A. Paulson.
Mrs. Drucker is running for mayor, because "I believe the city needs strong leadership as we confront these perilous economic times," she said.
"The residents need to know they can count on their mayor to be decisive and that, when there are issues, they will be dealt with quickly and responsibly."
If elected mayor, Mrs. Drucker said, she would be actively involved in all the day-to-day activities of the city, not leaving council to negotiate major deals.
"I think it's the mayor's responsibility to meet with businesses, developers and residents," she said. While council's input is important, Mrs. Drucker said, it is not a substitute for mayoral leadership. "Someone is needed to lead the way," she said.
Mrs. Drucker cited the ongoing Briar Hill dam negotiations and how they were handled from the beginning as a reason why a change is needed. "As mayor, I would have been the one to sit down with my administration and hammer out a deal with Briar Hill and not leave it up to a councilman," she said. As a result, she said, the entire council was not informed as to what was going on.
With the lifestyle redevelopment project proposed by the Coral Co., Mrs. Drucker said, she learned through discussions that there was no development agreement signed. Council was under the impression there was one. She sought answers from the developer as to why a development decision was not signed, she said. Subsequently, the developer pulled out of the deal.
"As mayor, I would protect the interest of every citizen in Solon," Mrs. Drucker said.
She would also work to promote Solon, not only in the area of retail, but also for the city's industrial and residential sections as well, she said.
"A mayor needs to go out there and sell Solon as a whole," Mrs. Drucker said.
She said her priorities as mayor would be to maintain the city's economic vitality while encouraging business growth. She is also committed to increasing citizen participation in government, she said.
"As mayor, I will have quarterly town-hall meetings for the residents to ask questions or express their concerns openly and freely, and to get answers," Mrs. Drucker said. "I will also reinstate citizen commissions and encourage our residents to get involved in civic affairs."
Mrs. Drucker said she will continue supporting the city's charter so residents in any particular ward have final say as to what development occurs within their ward.
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