Cindi Delaney was appointed to the Mesquite City Council recently after having run for the office two times previously.
She owns a local business, Delaney Studio, Photography, and was the original owner of Mesquite Local News.
She recently answered some questions about her new appointment with this newspaper.
You’ve run for a seat on the city council twice before, so obviously this is a position you’ve wanted. How does it feel to finally have this position?
I’ve always wanted to be a voice for positive change in Mesquite. It may not be how I expected to get here, but now that I am I intend to represent Mesquite to the best of my ability. I still believe that I’ve earned the position and have been vetted by the people. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback. It seems that most citizens believe in the the democratic process and even if they didn’t vote for me they respect the voice of the people.
What are your goals as a council member?
I want to regain our sense of community and civic pride. We have always been a strong close community. During the hard times we seemed to lose some of that, I’d like to see us come back together. I’d also like to see us refresh our identity. In fact to define our brand.
I plan to be a leader in the downtown corridor and helping to establish a viable thriving downtown area. And as always to be a strong advocate for business in Mesquite.
The council has changed quite a bit in the past month, with a new mayor and yourself. How will this change the overall dynamic of the group?
Hopefully it will be very positive. I’ve felt great support from the mayor and each of the other council members. We are a diverse group of individuals with a broad range of skills and experiences. This new configuration should be more proactive and dynamic. Mesquite, had a time when we needed a calm and a healing period. Now it’s time for action. While I don’t see myself always agreeing with the other council members, I do believe that each of us has what’s best for our city at heart. We may not all use the same vehicle, but we are all headed to the same destination.
You’ve been an independent business owner in Mesquite for many years. How will this experience help you on the city council?
Business drives the economy. Business is what pays the bills. I understand the challenges businesses face and hope to be an advocate to help stimulate our local economy. On the other hand, a city should be run like a business. We must always live within our budget. Citizens and other businesses are our customers. We should strive to give them the best bang for their buck and to always be mindful of customer service.
You’ve also been a former journalist and launched this newspaper 10 years ago. How will it feel to be on the other side of the news-gathering process?
Well it’s already started. There are things that I believe the public should know about and sometimes that’s not possible (For a variety of reasons). On the other hand, I hope to help all departments understand that the ‘Media’ can be your friend. I do believe that our city, like most, can do a little better in media relations.
Personally, it does feel a bit strange to see my photo on the front page without a byline under the photo and/or on the story.
What do you like best about Mesquite?
We fell in love with Mesquite years ago as my husband and I traveled through the area while driving a truck. I jokingly tell people not to drink the water because something in it makes you want to stay forever. One of our old city slogans used to be, “Come for a day. Stay for a lifetime.” Honestly though, its the people. Whether a true local with family ties that go back to the cotton farmers that settled our area to the couple that just moved here last week to enjoy the sunshine and lifestyle, people are in Mesquite by choice and are some of the friendliest most genuine people on earth. It’s just an amazing place to live.
What are the biggest issues facing the city going forward?
Like most cities, small and large across America we are recovering from the recession. During the good times we weren’t as conservative as we maybe should have been. It seemed we were celebrating a new project every week. Now we have empty warehouses and office spaces and a few things that never got finished or came to fruition at all. We need to encourage conscious growth and development. Making sure all the t’s are crossed and all the i’s are dotted. It’s the “Look Before You Leap” theory. Just like your parents always told you.