Geneva alderman to sign off for a while

I appreciate the opportunity to have served the fine citizens of Geneva for the last 16 years. I served eight years on the Geneva City Council and before that eight years on the Geneva Library board.

I have always felt that I have made a positive impact with the decisions I have made, and I am proud to have been part of a great community that I have called home since I moved here in 1979. I only made one decision that I felt was wrong, and I was able to correct that at the following meeting. I didn't believe that I had given the other side an equal opportunity to be heard.

I have always enjoyed working with the professional staff at the City of Geneva and the Geneva Library. We should all be proud to live in such a wonderful community that is full of citizens that truly care and employees that love living and working here.

There is a fine line between public service and politics. I truly believe that most of the people that I have served with over the last 16 years are truly public servants. I believe that most of those people are in it for the right reason, to make Geneva a better place, and only a few to better their own selves.

Over the last several months, I have been encouraged to run for mayor of Geneva by many friends, and many people that I had never met before. I appreciate all the support that I have received from you all. I regret to say that this is not the right time for me to do this. I will always love the city of Geneva, and I will always call this my home. I still live here, own a business here, shop here, dine here and relax here.

My years of public service are not over, I'm just taking a break for a short while. And I will certainly find something else to do with the time. I will continue to enjoy my work on the Geneva Mental Health Board.

Thank you again for the opportunity to have served this fine community for the last 16 years.

William K. Barclay

Alderman 2nd Ward, City Of Geneva

Chairman, Geneva Mental Health Board