[Vision2020] New mayor readies for his entrance . . .

[Tom Hansen]

. . . or "How to Be Interviewed and Say Absolutely Nothing" by Bill Lambert.

Courtesy of today's (January 4, 2014) Lewiston Tribune

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New mayor readies for his entrance
Bill Lambert says he will take time to learn the details of Moscow's policies before he makes any recommendations
MOSCOW - Bill Lambert is excited to get into office, but Moscow's incoming mayor says he has a lot studying to do before making any drastic changes.
"I kind of want to get a feel for everything, and that's how I operate," said Lambert, who is a manager at Safeway.
Lambert succeeds Nancy Chaney as Moscow's mayor, and will officially be sworn into office during the city council's meeting Monday night. Newly elected or re-elected city councilors Walter Steed, John Weber and Art Bettge will also be sworn in Monday.
Lambert has already begun preparing for his new role, and said he will spend much of the day leading up to his swearing in at city hall meeting with staff and going over the council's agenda for the night.
Even with his preparation, Lambert said he's not the type of person to just decide something needs to be changed without understanding it thoroughly beforehand - that's shooting from the hip.
Instead, he said he plans to spend the first few weeks in office learning the ins and outs of various policies and operations. If something needs to be changed, Lambert said he should be able to provide a list of reasons why.
The new mayor plans to focus on creating a clear direction for Moscow's future, something he said has been lacking in recent years.
"I just think that we need to get people together, moving the sled together," he said.
That includes working to build light industry in town, enhancing the city's relationship with the University of Idaho and building on how those two institutions can work together. Lambert said if Moscow could strengthen those efforts, the city would be unstoppable.
One way he intends to try to accomplish that is by having a close relationship with the UI president, with the hopes that by working together they can find a way to get some students to stay in Moscow after graduation. Lambert said he thinks retaining young professionals can help to grow businesses in the area.
Lambert said he also wants continue some of the programs already in place at the city that focus on water conservation, like the regularly scheduled water summits.
Accomplishing that kind of work will require the community, Lambert said, and all its individual parts capitalizing on everyone's skills. But the council has to be open to different ideas, he said.
"We don't know what we can't do because we haven't done it yet," he said.
Lambert is eager to help point out hidden potential of individuals and within the community of Moscow. Lambert said he's passionate about finding the hidden potential in people because it will often lead to remarkable outcomes that sometimes people didn't know were possible.
But it's a process that won't just happen overnight, he said, especially when considering there are also the city's day-to-day functions like police and fire protection that have to be carried out.
"Those are the first and foremost things for us all to keep in mind," Lambert said.
Lambert will continue working part-time at Safeway. He enjoys the job and said it gives him a good opportunity to have Moscow residents meet with him.
"Being mayor, I've got to be an ambassador for Moscow," Lambert said. "That's what I want to achieve."
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Not one specificity anywhere in the interview.

Just what The readers of the Lewiston Tribune need on this cold Weekend . . . hot air.

One can hardly (and painfully) imagine what the next few years will be like.  We'll just have to wait, watch, and see (as I stock up with public records requests).

That said, I have one question for Mr. Lambert that was not (and should have been) asked of him during the pre-election debates . . . 

With whom do you place your primary loyalties, Mr. Lambert . . . Safeway (that pays yor wages) or the people of Moscow, to whom you will be giving an oath on Monday?

Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still.
But first you must learn to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon
 
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