Sometime innocuous statements…aren’t so innocuous after all.
Two different reporters, from two different publications, nearly two months apart report eerily similar words spoken by Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker.
When Kristin Daum, of the Fargo Forum reported Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker’s comments on January 28th, 2012:
EXCERPT FROM:
Walaker’s Warning Reignites Divide Between Diversion Supporters, Opponents
“I’ve asked for it several times: If they’re going to be against the project, that’s their right, but the other problem is: Then, come up with a better solution,” Walaker said. “There’s certain factions out there that are just totally against the project, and my loyalty is to the 200,000 people in this community that depend upon this city for their livelihood.”
Then Kristin Kirtz, contributing writer to the High Plains Reader reported Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker’s comments on March 15th, 2012:
EXCERPT FROM:
Seeking Answers: My F-M diversion quest
As the mayor sits slouched, his hands in his pockets, he talks about why he believes the flood diversion is the best option for the city; “My loyalty is to the 200 thousand people that derive and take care of their families in the cities of Dilworth, West Fargo, Fargo and Moorhead,” he says.
Albeit, the words differ slightly, the underlying message hints at a deeper issue.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Meglomaniac
meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a (mg-l-mn-, -mny)
n.
1. A psychopathological condition in which delusional fantasies of
wealth, power, or omnipotence predominate.
2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.
Someone needs to tap on Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker’s shoulder and remind him that he’s getting too big for his britches and that he is “ONLY” the Mayor of Fargo, ND – pointing out that his mayoral powers cease at the city limits. That…, and his $2 billion dollar plus diversion is rather extravagant when it doesn’t benefit the region as a whole, let alone the taxpayers of North Dakota, Minnesota or the nation.
How insulting is it for neighboring mayors to upstaged…or better yet – forgotten?
Despite any excuse or feigned downplay, the essence of how Fargo, ND Mayor Dennis Walaker views himself shines through his words and deeds.
There are more than 400,000 North Dakotans with bigger issues than Fargo’s tenuous relationship with the rivers and flood-plains Fargo obstructs.
Definitely more than 305 million other taxpaying American’s that have more pressing financial issues than funding the future economic growth of Fargo’s elite land developers.
For the record:
Each of the following mayors were voted into office by the citizens they represent and deserve greater consideration than being secretaries to Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker’s causes.
Moorhead, MN Mayor Mark Voxland represents over 36,804 residents.
Phone: (218) 299-5307
email: mark.voxland@cityofmoorhead.com
West Fargo, ND Mayor Rich Mattern represents over 24,313 residents.
Phone: (701) 793-0472
email: Richard.Mattern@ndsu.edu
Dilworth, MN Mayor Chad Olson represents over 3,711 residents.
Phone: (218) 287-5452
email: Chad.Olson@ci.dilworth.mn.us
Horace, ND Mayor Shane Walock represents over 1,020 residents.
Phone: (701) 282-7980
email: deerhunter751@hotmail.com
Harwood, ND Mayor Bill Rohrich represents over 718 residents.
Phone: (701) 282-5182
email: cityofharwood@msn.com
Frontier, ND Mayor Barry Wegner represents over 214 residents.
Phone: (701) 293-1308
email:
Moorhead Mayor Mark Voxland is standing at a crossroads. If he continues to support Fargo’s push for the Fargo Moorhead Dam and FM Diversion he plays right into Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker’s hands and condemns Moorhead’s next 50-100 years of economic growth for Fargo’s benefit.
However, if Moorhead Mayor Mark Voxland plays his cards right, he can usher in a new era for Moorhead’s economic prosperity.
That is of course…, if Mayor Voxland speaks for himself…and not by the influence of the self appointed Metro Mayor.
History records the mistakes of leaders both great and small…
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