How’s the Mayor doing?

Last week, the North Coast News asked readers (and visitors to northcoastnews.com) how Mayor Dean Bunkers did, on his first year in office. Your answers, via voicemail, e-mail and on-line postings at northcoastnews.com:

I did not know him before he became mayor. What I have seen of him is excellent. He concentrates on listening and understanding instead of being judgmental.

Ocean shores is fortunate to have a man of his dedication and his competence.

-Norm Schut

We believe that Mayor Bunkers has done very well in his new job.

We are impressed with how smoothly he handled the transition to a new form of government for Ocean Shores.

-John and Catie Clark

I couldn’t be more happy with his work performance.  

 He is a good listener..

 Takes positive action where required…

 Always follows up with requests from our citizens…

 His leadership and decision making is benefiting the citizens of Ocean Shores…

 We made a good choice…

 -Michael R. Brehan

I think that Mayor Bunkers is doing a credible job in managing the city’s business and keeping our heads above water, financially.

He has made some tough decisions that has affected employees and families and I am sure that bothers him, but alas, they were decisions he had to make.

He is open and accessible and I appreciate that. At this time I will grade him a B-+.

-Joe Reason 

Personally, I couldn’t sleep at night knowing that eight families were being effected with lay-offs while I was enjoying a $99,600.00 annual salary.

-Marijo Reineking

I am responding to your question as an Ocean Shores resident and as a Councilmember.  

 I am real happy with our new form of government and with our Mayor.  His “open door” policy is a benefit to all of us as residents and to me as a Councilmember.  He welcomes all of us to stop by his office to share our thoughts and ideas.  If a Councilmember shares a resident’s concern with him he will make it a point to call that person and in many cases he has made an effort to go visit with a resident in person to deal with an issue.  I feel this is true responsive government.  He has spent a lot of time and energy dealing with all the issues from water treatment to the budget crisis to making sure residents feel comfortable speaking at council meetings.  Nothing is frivolous in his eyes.  He is respectful of our City Staff and encourages each Councilmember to discuss our issues with staff when we have questions and concerns.

 I feel we have a Mayor and Council who are concerned and care about our City and our quality of life in Ocean Shores. 

 -Peggy Berry

Mayor Bunkers is working very hard and is getting results for the citizens of Ocean Shores. Had Mayor Bunkers not been elected as Mayor and if Ocean Shores was still being run by an inexperienced city manager with a city council that consistently failed to provide oversight of city operations, today the city would be facing the very real possibility of going bankrupt.  

Mr. Bunkers brought a most welcome new look at how to run Ocean Shores government in an open and professional manner. The city is still facing major financial problems and has important issues to resolve (e.g., water quality and a deteriorating infrastructure) and so the jury is not yet out. You need to ask this same question in about a year.  

But for now, Mayor Bunkers has correctly picked his top priorities and is making good progress.

-Donald Williams

Becoming the first elected “strong” mayor of a city inhabited by a number of entities professing to possess superior intellect who can tell a public servant what he/she is doing wrong, while offering no solutions, is a daunting task and Dean Bunkers has proven he is up to the challenge.

He has had to make some difficult decisions during his short time in office with the economic climate of the city being what it is and as for that $99,600 salary…I think he’s worth every penny of it. -Fred Winge

Mayor Bunkers is exactly what this city needed. Too bad it took so long and so much debt to finally realize the need for honest professional leadership. As for the so called controversy over his salary; only small town politics. His salary and duties were published in both the North Coast News and The Daily World when he took office. If it were a real issue, why did it take 6 months to raise this issue?

-Jaen P. Henry

 I should start by saying that I was not in favor of the strong mayor form of government.  That said, I think the mayor is doing an excellent job.  His learning curve is not straight up as it was in the beginning but, as with all of the council, he is still in a learning mode.  

In the beginning, he was reluctant to let go of some decisions and to use his department heads.  This was part of his learning mode.  Now, to his credit, he has more confidence in his department heads and has not been so involved with each and every decision.

Dean has recognized the difference between the military and the civilian side of government.  He has had to deal with the budget, the public and the unions in a different way.  I find him willing to listen to ideas and consider suggestions. He has had to make some difficult decisions about the budget, employees and spending.  To his credit, I believe he considers the best interests of the city when making those decisions.  What he has found is that to do the job, he can not please everyone; sometimes even those who supported him the strongest in his run for mayor.

I believe that we were fortunate to have someone with his skills as our first mayor.  

-Nick Johnson

Dean is very responsive to individual questions and as others have said has inherited a lot of challenges. I expect he will meet them with his typical straight forward style.

I would like to see fewer “agenda changes” to the city council meeting agendas. These last minute changes can reduce public discussion about some important issues.

I am very excited to see the new water project get started. Thanks Dean!

-Mark Plackett 

Mayor Bunkers,

Not doing a bad job whatsoever. However, give up half your salary. Don’t be greedy with your money. You and your wife are retired commissioned officers from the service. You don’t need the City of Ocean Shores to cover your benefits. Give it up to help our city become even more stabilized. You asked the bargaining units to open up contracts to give back…why don’t you give back if it actually means something to you. I do think you are doing a fine job, just go the extra mile and show those who work for you that you do care about them and their families. Also, my wife tells me she has never met you since you have became the Mayor. I think you should go out and meet those who you are asking so much from.

Posted by “OSLOCAL”

As someone from the outside that has some inside insight, my opinion is that Mayor Bunkers is a thoughtful, hardworking and honest person.

-Mike Olden

Being Mayor of Ocean Shores is a bit like being the First Mate on the Titanic. I don’t always agree with you, but I think with the problems you faced when you took office, you have done a great job. It will take time to clear up years of mismanagement and poor decisions. Hang in there….

-Nicky Anderson

Hey, Dean, you’ve put your heart and soul into this little dirtwater town. I don’t think anyone could ask more of one man. You are what this town needed. Honesty, hard work, fairness, feelings, grit, and a willingness to go to the heart of the matter, no matter how uncomfortable for you.

Just remember, you can’t please everybody all the time, but you certainly make a good stab at it. And, I still think a round-a-bout in this town is stupid. :0) Joan Baus

-Joan Baus 

Mayor Bunkers is doing very well, particularly with as many divergent
viewpoints as there are around here.

-Gene Seeley