Small Town News

Best to move on from grudges

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Unless lightning strikes somewhere between Opelika City Hall and Opelika Chamber of Commerce headquarters about a block away, Barbara Patton will become the new executive director of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. I've already heard a few claps of thunder but I think the front is going to pass over as the movers and shakers of that beautiful city have spoken rather firmly.

There couldn't be a better fit for the job, but you can find a handful of people in high places who were not necessarily wishing her well despite their public persona. I'm not supposed to be telling you this because Ms. Patton is not going to be formally introduced as the new director until the end of this month.

She's going to be replacing Wendy Routhier in the $60,000-per-year position. Routhier is leaving after seven years in the post to join the School of Business at Auburn University. She has done an outstanding job.

After learning of her desire to make a change, Chamber of Commerce directors sent out the word that they were looking for a new leader. Almost 50 applications poured in over a two-month period. The executive committee, headed by Chairman Bob Meadows, carefully went through all the applications and narrowed the field down to five, then to two and then unanimously picked former Opelika mayor Barbara Patton.

Evidently when he got word what was going down, the current mayor of Opelika, Gary Fuller, made it to the chamber session in which the decision was to be made. He's been to maybe three meetings in three years, but with Barbara Patton almost certainly to be named to head the Chamber he showed up at the meeting and was not a happy camper.,

He is an ex-officio member of the Chamber board by virtue of being mayor. He defeated Barbara Patton to become mayor, a victory he has still not gotten over. Not too many months ago he circulated an ugly memo to city department heads letting them know up front that anybody who did any favors for the former mayor *would be summarily dismissed. That means fired on the spot.

Scroll forward to the selection of a new chamber executive and he was still showing his opinion and seeking to display his perceived power in a very public fashion. Mrs. Patton is a very genteel, yet savvy lady and knows more about the city of Opelika than perhaps anyone living today. She does, though, withhold the arrogance too many of the rich and powerful display.

Ms. Patton said at least twice that she was not really interested in the job, apparently knowing her selection would not go 6ver too well with Mayor Fuller. But the movers and shakers of Opelika told her she had to do it "for the good of the city" that she so dearly loves. She certainly didn't need the money, nor was she looking for a job. She agreed to be a candidate to serve her community.

But in keeping with her style she made a point to visit the Mayor's office, after her selection, and see if there were any old wounds that needed to be healed.

The Mayor was all sweetness and light during that session as he gave Mrs. Patton his blessings. The interesting thing to watch will be to see if that nice-ness turns into reality. Mayor Patton has done as much for that city as anyone in its history. She laid the groundwork for the massive retail complex known as Tiger Town which is eating Auburn's lunch when it comes to sales tax revenue and retail sales.

Gary Fuller has worked hard all his life, completing college, working as a disc jockey and owner of a radio station then several stations. He sold those stations in recent years and it took a wheelbarrow to haul his cash to the bank. And now he's the mayor; surely there were a few times in his life when his mother told him not to get too big for his britches. Several in the Chamber of Commerce think that's exactly what's happening with the Lord Mayor. And it's not just with his disdain for Mrs. Patton.

Fuller has a long memory and hangs onto grudges as well as anybody I know. Only recently he got involved in trying to find a replacement for Bill Harrelson, long-time director of the Opelika's Parks and Recreation Department. Many say Harrelson is stepping down because he doesn't get along well with the mayor. He's telling people that he's earned his retirement and wants to enjoy it, and it makes more sense financially than continuing to work.

Opelika Parks and Recreation is governed by an autonomous board with three white members and two black. They seek a unanimous vote. The finalists include one black and one white.

That board, in its wisdom, does not want to see a vote come down along racial lines. But Mayor Fuller is complicating the process by letting it be known who he wants in the job. When reminded the decision was not his to make, he reminded the board members that the city pumps a lot of cash into the operation. Talk about intimidation!'

For a kid from Dadeville, who has made it on his own, has a few million dollars in the bank and is now the mayor, it seems like it would be nice just to relax and enjoy it all. He has a great family and a great city over which to preside. But if his head gets too big he won't get much pleasure out of any of this. Mayor Fuller has a great opportunity to show some real leadership on these issues. Let's encourage him to let bygones be bygones.

Paul Davis writes a Sunday column for the O-A News. You may contact him at Paul_Davis@charter.net



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© 2011 The Tuskegee News Tuskegee, Alabama. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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