Tuesday, Apr. 13, 2010
Time served
John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher
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I don’t mean to imply that any amount of time serving the citizens of a town as a city council member is in any way like jail time.
Although, some admit that after their terms are up – either voluntarily or otherwise – there is a bit of relief.
“I might have lost the election, but I won my freedom,” District 2 council member Sissy Reed told me recently.
Reed lost her seat last week to a newcomer, fresh-faced, now-26-year old Chris Lievsay by 42 votes.
After the election, Lievsay was the first to say he wasn’t that surprised by his win. Given Reed’s record on the council and the fact that she had served 17 years in Blue Springs, I would say most were at least doing a double-take at the results on election night.
This election didn’t have the “throw the bums out” feel that other elections do, although that might be hard to gauge in Blue Springs given that Reed was the only incumbent running again.
“There was not a very large turnout, so, that probably contributed to it,” Reed said, offering the only serious bit of banter when discussing her loss, quickly adding, “But then again, all my friends that supported me have either died or moved to Florida.”
Reed isn’t mad she lost. And she’s not ashamed.
Why should she be? During her time on the council, she’s served three mayors – Greg Grounds, Steve Steiner and Carson Ross. And she’s served as Mayor Pro Tempore for all of them.
She was one of many that shared a vision for Blue Springs during the thriving 1990s and 2000s for this town. During that time, the popular Adams Pointe Golf Course and Adams Pointe Conference Center have gone up. And more recently, Adams Dairy Landing is finally seeing a flood of new businesses opening up.
Reed was usually the last to act contentious or snide during city council meetings. And if she threw out the occasional barb, it was probably well earned by her counterparts.
All and all, she can’t fault herself for deciding, on the last filing day for the election back in 1993, to throw her name in the hat.
“There was only one time I was unopposed,” she recalls.
As to what Reed will do with her signature scrolling name tag? Well, she’s not handing it over Lievsay. He’ll have to get his own.
“I’m going to keep it for all of my holidays,” she said with a laugh.
Reed’s positive personality has probably helped her through this difficult time, and I’m not talking about the election loss. On election day, Reed had to drive to Pueblo, Colo., for her uncle’s funeral.
She found out she had lost her seat while she was in Colorado but took it all in stride.
“It’s been an enjoyable time and I love Blue Springs,” she said. “And I will still be here supporting it from the background.”
But, she quickly adds, “I’m going to enjoy my free time also.”
John Beaudoin is publisher of the Blue Springs Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail editor@bluespringsjournal.com.
