HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.a. Carroll Resignation from City Council July 7, 1999
To the Editor: �
As some Rosemount residents already lmow,I resigned from the Rosemount City Council at the end of the
Council meeting that was held on July 6th. Although it may have appeazed that my resignation was
precipitated by events that occurred during that meeting,I had actually been considering such a move for
several months. Generally speal.�ing,I left the Council for two reasons.
First,and most importantly,I simply want to spend more time with my family.When I ran for the Council�in
1995,my children were 1,4 and 6. I thought I had a handle on how much time parenting and Ciry Council
business would each require. In retrospect,I didn't have a clue. My kids are now 5, 8 and 10,and I've found
that I'm missing far too many sporting events,lessons,recitals,competitions and other important parts of
their lives. I want them to learn that public service is important,but I do not want them to believe that it's
more important to me than they are. I ran for the Council in the belief that we can make our world a better
place,one city at a time.While I still hold that view,I also believe that we can each make our city a better
place,one home at a time. For me, for now, it's more important to be where I'm needed the most....and
that's at home,rather than at City Hall.I've been overextended for too long,and it's time for me to try
buming the proverbial caridle at only one end for a change. �
Second, I've been trying for some time to realistically assess whether my continued presence on the Council
would have any significant,beneficial impact on the procedwal and substantive issues that are important to
me(and to at least a few others). I have concluded that it would not,given the current political climate.For
our city govemment to operate as fairly and effectively as possible,some changes will have to be made,but
they will not occur unless or until enough residents/voters decide that they want something different.The
beauty of our system of govecnment is that while elected officials sometimes seem(or presume)to have all
the power,the real power ultimately resides with those who aze governed. One dces not need to be a Council
member to focus public attention on important issues. In the children's fairy tale,it was a small boy,rather
than a member of the"royal court,"who first exclaimed that the Emperor wore no clothes.
I consider myself fortunate to have been able to serve with Council members like Joan Anderson,who single=
handedly made"common sense"seem less like an oxymoron to me, and Dennis Wipperman,who exempl�ed
the type of unassuming civility that all elected of�icials would do well to emulate.I'm glad that I had
opportunities to work closely with our dedicated,hard-working city staff members,who generally get much
� less credit than they deserve when things go well in Rosemount. Finally,I believe that a Council member is .
not so much a public o�`'icial as a public servant, and I'm deeply grateful that I was given a chance to serve
my own community for a while in that capacity.T'hank you again to those who voted for me in 1995,and to
those who understand and accept my recent decision to seek other ways of continuing to serve Rosemount.
Very yours,
����
in Carroll
3325 147th St. .
Rosemount MN 55068
651-423-7070(h)
612-717-4029(w)