UPDATED: Former Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel pledges to complete term on council

by Andrew Laska of of Richardson Echo

RICHARDSON — At Monday's city council meeting former Mayor Gary Slagel announced that he would complete his term as the Place 4 representative on the Richardson city council. He made this decision after being presented a petition signed by citizens from Charles Eisemann.

At the June 25, 2007 council meeting Slagel was not re-elected as mayor and was replaced by Steve Mitchell.

At that time he said, “I am going to work as a councilman the next number of months. I want to get through the budget. I want to make sure we have strong leadership from Place 4 that can replace me...I’m not sure that I need to continue to serve for another two years… I was encouraged by too many of you who said, ‘Continue on. We need your leadership.’”

That encouragement came out again at Monday night’s council meeting. During the visitor’s section, Charles Eisemann, Richardson Chamber of Commerce's 2001 Citizen of the Year and namesake of the Eisemann Performance Center, presented former Mayor Slagel with a petition signed by 200 citizens asking him not to step down as a councilman. Eisemann was joined by about 70 supporters in the audience of the meeting.

Eisemann pointed out that Slagel had received over 4500 votes in the previous election. He gave a partial list of Slagel's accomplishments as mayor.

These include:

Serving on the board of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) for five years as well as serving as its President, receiving the NCTCOG William J. Pitstick Regional Excellence Award in 2003, being a former member of the board of the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition, being President of the Metroplex Mayor’s Association, working with Plano to get the "High Five" interchange's HOV lane to be changed from a one way elevated lane costing $35 to $38 million to a two way land-based HOV costing $3 to $5 million, acting as leader in securing a DART rail station at Galatyn Park where one was not originally planned, and getting the Cotton Belt rail line on DART's Master Plan for a rail line connecting Richardson and other cities to D/FW airport.

Eisemann then added, "You guided us through an economic downturn...You tightened the belt and did not spend money we could have spent.... As a result, Richardson coasted through the downturn and is on its way back." After the meeting Eisemann clarified his comments to the Echo by saying he was referring to the city refraining from selling bonds it had been authorized to sell from an earlier bond election and tightening the budget ahead of the downturn in anticipation of it being significant.

Eisemann also mentioned Richardson's low crime rate, its efficient fire department, its family friendly nature, the replacement of aging infrastructure, and the residential rehabilitation initiative. He then presented the former Mayor with the petition from about 200 residents.

Slagel thanked Mr. Eisemann for his comments and thanked everyone for their support. "There have been a large number of people who have encouraged me to continue on City Council. Pat and I have taken those inputs seriously," Slagel said, "If the city council says so, then I will stick around." Slagel then implied that the majority had implored him to refrain from resigning. He continued, "So, if so many people think I can make an impact and want me to remain on Council, I will stay."

This resulted in a standing ovation from approximately 70 people in the audience. Several people spoke to the Echo after the meeting.

After the meeting, current Mayor Steve Mitchell said, "Gary was duly elected to place 4. I've always said it was his decision. I support any decision he might make."

Richardson resident Matthew Moseley said, "It is honorable for his to serve out his term especially if he has the support of the Council. He brings a certain quality of leadership."

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Townsend said, "I absolutely support his decision. The city needs him and his leadership. He has done more for this city than any other person."

Council member Dennis Stewart said, "He was duly elected to place 4. He has a right to stay on the council and serve out his term."

Council member Rhea Allison said, "I am in total support for Gary being our Place 4 Councilman. The voters of Richardson elected him to represent Place 4 however the overriding sentiment throughout Richardson wanted new leadership at the top and we now have that with Mayor Mitchell."

Council member John Murphy and former Mayor Pro Tem said, "I am impressed with the support that Gary received. I share in that 100%. He was duly elected by the citizens. That he stays is a boon for the city and its residents. His experience is invaluable."

After the meeting Slagel spoke to the Echo. He said, "Chuck Eisemann talked about many of my accomplishments. Those were accomplishments of the City and would not have happened without the hard work and commitment of great City Councils with whom I have had the opportunity to serve. Many those people were both on the dais with me and in the audience. And of course, success takes a strong working relationship with not only the City Council but the City’s professional staff. This City has been blessed with a great staff.

Council member Pris Hayes refused to comment for this article. At the time of writing this article council member Rhea Allison had not yet responded to requests for comment.

Slagel and the city council generally have had several vocal critics over the years. The Echo attempted to get comments from several but they refused.

Slagel was elected to the city council in 1987. He was elected mayor in 1991 and served until Steve Mitchell was elected in 2007. If Slagel had resigned, the city council would have appointed his replacement.

All city council members current terms are until May 2009 when the next election will be held.