Monty for Mayor?

According to a poll of its members by the Chamber of Commerce, over 60% of those responding want to see Don Monty fill out the remainder of Joel Fritzler's term:

Carbondale City Councilman Don Monty is the preferred choice of business leaders to serve as the city’s acting mayor, according to a poll conducted by the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.

            Monty was named by 62 percent of respondents to the question “Who do you want to serve as acting mayor?” in a survey emailed Friday to the primary contact person at Chamber-member businesses and organizations. The survey was open for responses until 9 a.m. today.

            Monty received 36 of 58 votes in the survey. Other council members receiving support were Lance Jack with 8 votes (13.7 percent), Jane Adams with 7 votes (12 percent), Lee Fronabarger with 5 votes (8.6 percent) and Jessica Bradshaw with 2 votes (3.4 percent).

            Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Les O’Dell said that response to the poll shows the city’s businesses are very interested in the outcome of Tuesday’s council action to name a acting mayor.

            “Our business leaders have a critical stake in the selection of the acting mayor,” he said. “I think the fact that 58 businesses responded to our survey in such a short time shows their concern with the selection. I believe the business community wants to work with city leaders to make Carbondale a city that is very welcoming and supportive of business.”

            He said the results of the Chamber’s poll will be shared with the members of the city council prior to Tuesday’s selection of the acting mayor.

Councilwoman Jane Adams, who had expressed interest in the position, sent out an email Monday afternoon supporting Monty as well:

 
I have known Don Monty for many years. Throughout that time I have regarded Don as one of the best public citizens in Carbondale. He is honest, reasonable and thoughtful. For all those reasons and more, I support Don Monty as Acting Mayor of Carbondale to fill out Joel Fritzler term.

Don is a very capable person. He knows the interior of the city’s administration intimately, having served in many capacities in the many years he worked for the city. He has also been active in the civic life of the city, and is deeply committed to the neighborhoods. As we have served together, he has demonstrated his ability to solve problems and to work with others.

Don and I have voted together the great majority of the time. We share a vision for Carbondale's prosperity. Indeed, all of my fellow Council members are committed to doing the very best for our community. With Don at the helm I anticipate a deeply collaborative  and hard working city council.

I ran for City Council on a platform to “reenergize, reinvest in, and revitalize Carbondale.” It is time to move forward with unity of purpose to make that happen.