Over at Outside Erie, the discussion is whether there is such a person who could be an ideal candidate to run for local office in Erie. I think that it would be hard to find someone who wouldn’t be simultaneously loved by one side and scorned by the other.
But beyond the politics, and after the election, what kind of leader do we need in Erie, for such a time as this? I’m pretty sure that this is a question that can’t be answered in one post, so let me get started and we’ll go from there.
I think that it’s important to begin with the position. Where does the real power lay for generic Erie, meaning the area that is recognized by those out-of-town as Erie, not just the municipal boundaries? By the way we need to make that distinction, because we may find that a Millcreek Township supervisor could have as much power and agenda-creating force as the city’s mayor, given the socioeconomic strength in that suburb.
Is the real power centered in Millcreek or Summit, or is it at City Hall, or the County Court House? 25 years ago, there would have been no contest: Erie Mayor Lou Tullio was the power broker personified. Of course, back then the county was quite new under the Home Rule Charter, and the suburban townships were full into their own business.
However in 2009 the significant decline of the city center has been accompanied by the decline in its power base. Retail has long moved its traffic to Millcreek and Summit, following the housing migration. You have a situation where thousands of people can live in generic “Erie,” work in “Erie,” and shop in “Erie,” while rarely traveling into the City of Erie.
I still think that it would be difficult for a township supervisor to lead a regional area-wide agenda. The commissioner’s chair is a slight bully pulpit. So that leaves the city’s mayor and council, and the county executive and council. As much as I’d like to see the mayor be the captain of Erie’s team, right now in my opinion it is only the county executive who holds the wherewithal (fiscal and powerbase) to lead the community’s agenda.
The county has to be the seat of good government, economic development, and facilitating networks toward the advancement of the region. The county exec should have something to say about everything that is part of life in our community, including law enforcement, education, water & sewer, and emergency response.
See how hard it is to define our leadership? It’s taken us 440 words just to figure out his or her position! Next time, we’ll start knocking down some of the traits we want to see in our community agenda-makers.
Please chime in on what you think!
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