Amazing feat

Editor:

“When the burdens of the presidency seem unusually heavy, I always remind myself it could be worse. I could be a mayor….”

President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke those words during his one-and-only elected term as president. How blessed Wallingford has been that Bill Dickinson has been willing and able to shoulder the burdens and responsibilities of mayor for 20 — count ‘em, 20 — consecutive terms!

That’s an amazing feat, especially in a town where Democrats historically have significantly outnumbered Republicans. Given the current political climate, it’s highly unlikely anyone else would be able to come close to repeating that accomplishment.

I, for one, will miss Bill’s steady, sensible leadership, now that he has announced that he will not seek another term. He’s a man of integrity, intelligence, wisdom, and common sense, and he will be leaving our wonderful town on stable financial footing for our next mayor. Bill put his heart and soul into serving our community for four decades, and we owe him a debt of gratitude.

Having said all that, I am happy for Bill that, come January, he will begin a new chapter, and I wish him all the best in whatever comes next. He is the epitome of a true public servant, so I am certain that he will find new ways to serve and to contribute his time and talents.

The good news is that an excellent candidate has expressed a desire to be our next mayor. I cannot think of a more experienced, more capable, more qualified successor to Mayor Dickinson than our current Town Council chairman, Vinny Cervoni. Go, Vinny!

Patricia J. Kohl, Wallingford