A word on behalf of small-town mayors

Let's stop picking on small-town mayors, who are about to reach the boiling point over our so-called lack of experience in executive and administrative matters. S

mall-town mayors are closer to their constituents than any other elected official. A smaller town means a smaller staff, which means more decisions are made by the mayor.

The mayor makes all the decisions of what is to be brought to the board, i.e., the budget, job openings, salary raises, safety and security of the residents, staffing of law enforcement fall to the mayor.

The need for and availability of volunteers comes to the mayor.

Vendors, job seekers, insurance adjusters, union representatives, requests for donations, request for proclamations and so much more comes directly to the mayor's desk.

Then there are meetings: Board meetings, township meetings, county meetings, state meetings, agency meetings, club meetings, church meetings. The mayor of a small town is expected to be at all area charitable events, even paying for his or her own ticket, graduations and sports games, attend with some regularity meetings of fire districts, mosquito districts, cemetery districts and whatever group decides they need to meet.

Now, if that mayor happens to be a woman, let's add a few more duties to her job description such as running the family home. That job probably includes cooking, shopping, carpooling, going to PTA meetings, making sure the family is ready for Sunday services, keeping time free to spend with her spouse; that's very important.

Sarah Palin was a great small-town mayor, and she has made more executive decisions than the other three candidates combined.

Because Wasilla is about the same size as Winfield, I know she learned well how to make fair, safe and sound decisions.

I know because I have walked a mile in those moccasins. And I will vote for the McCain/Palin ticket because I also know her background education as a small-town mayor is priceless and unequaled by any other candidate running.

Marylou D. Crane

former mayor of Winfield