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Best wishes to Mayor Chuck Barney

This week, Minot Mayor Chuck Barney will pass the gavel to his successor and step aside as most recognizable figure on the city council. Barney opted not to seek re-election this year and the Mayor Shaun Sipma era will be ushered in.

Mayor Barney has been a fixture in city politics for years, first for 14 years on the council and then as mayor since 2014. He has served during times of intense challenge, change and opportunity over the course of his career, from the 2011 flood to the boom and downturn, through the drug plague and through city initiatives that generated more derision than support.

Through all of the unusual times and troubles, Mayor Barney provided a rational, collaborative, mature perspective and an able hand in navigating the city. Even when it came to issues that ran afoul of public opinion, there Mayor Barney has been – in hand recently with the young, reform-minded council members inspired by #MakeMinot – a thoughtful leader in the effort to correct mistakes of the past. Furthermore, he has done so with class and a gentle, warm nature, never pointing fingers or making excuses.

Whether one has mostly agreed with or mostly disagreed with Mayor Barney, he has been a good public servant and, more importantly, he is a fundamentally good man with a sense of community, sense of humor, and sense of perspective that are inspiring.

Hopefully, that inspiration will continue in the new administration. The outgoing mayor is free now to enjoy the enhancement of the other aspect of his rich and full life – a man, still young, who has done his civic duty and goes home now to do his duty as family man, educator, citizen… and elder statesman. Mayor Barney is too classy to insert himself in the next phase of Minot leadership. But there is no doubt he will be there for new Mayor Sipma and the city council should they need his institutional knowledge, wisdom or insight. This dynamic new city council, so rich in potential, is encouraged to lean on Mayor Barney when they so need.

Just as long as we as a community and our leaders don’t ask for more than Mayor Barney wants to provide. After all, he has more than earned this exciting new phase in his life.

Minot Daily News has not always agreed with city decisions under Mayor Barney, just as we don’t agree with any elected official. But there has long been mutual respect and affection between MDN and Mayor Barney; and that will continue.

Farewell, Chuck. Enjoy your summer and the treasure of keeping your own time. On behalf of the city and its residents, thank you for your honorable service. May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields.

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