Mayor Holen redux

This is a good choice. In general, Holen did a solid job during his previous years as mayor, and there is no reason to expect any less from him over the next two months from now until the election, when the voters will be able to have their say.

With a chance to hear directly from the city's voters coming in November, Holen would be well advised to avoid making any unnecessarily controversial moves until the voters have had a chance to make their views known.

For example, taking an extra two months before making any major personnel decisions could help in the process of healing the rifts that have appeared within the city over the last couple years. Dealing with those rifts alone could be more than a full-time task for the new mayor.

Every mayor has the right to bring in his or her own team, if that can help the city move forward. Yet at the same time, it could prove to be even more disruptive to the city if new people are brought in immediately. What if a different mayor is elected in November, and he or she in turn wants to get rid of the interim mayor's picks and bring in his or her own? That scenario would lead to added instability at City Hall, and could be a new setback to a city that badly needs calm and positive momentum.

November will be here soon enough, and whoever is elected, he or she will then have a mandate from the voters of the city. That will give any decisions a new mayor makes added credibility.

That advice aside, however, we congratulate Mr. Holen on his phoenix-like return to the mayor's office. The interim choice of Holen was a logical one for a city and a City Hall in need of experienced guidance. We wish Mayor Holen good luck as he tackles the many difficult issues confronting the city of White Salmon.

JB