NORTHFIELD — If the past is an accurate predictor, the city council, under the incoming mayor, should have a distinctly different tone than the current septet.
Those who’ve served with Mayor-elect Mary Rossing on a number of different community boards say the 46-year-old is a leader who is interested in the details, but can think creatively; who seeks the opinions of others, but is willing to make tough decisions.
But mostly, those who’ve seen her lead say Rossing knows how to utilize the talents of others, while understanding where her own strengths lie.
“One thing I’ve always liked about Mary,” said Bob Kuyper, who served on the Northfield Historical Society board with Rossing, “is she’s not a big ego. There’s a confidence about her, about getting the job done.”
Kuyper said he understands public service. His father served on a southern California city planning commission for 20 years. “My dad said, ‘The key to leadership is first understand, then be understood.’ I think Mary’s good at that.”
Rossing begins a task, said former Northfield Mayor Keith Covey, by understanding what principles are important to getting the job done.
Covey, who sits on the Northfield Downtown Development Corp. board with Rossing, its president, said she’s good at delegating responsibility, too. Just as important, he added, was that she lets others do “what they do best.”
That, the former mayor said, is critical for elected officials who determine policy and have staff to carry out their decisions.
Bonnie Jean Flom, who also sat on the historical society board with Rossing, said the downtown businesswoman was good at bringing others into the process, including those not serving on the board.
A leader can often be measured in how they handle conflict — something Rossing’s former colleagues say she handles with aplomb.
During a recent a difference of opinion between NDDC board members, Covey said, Rossing listened to both sides and worked to find consensus, a trait he believes will serve her well on council. There, he said, “it’s really about finding compromise that will serve the needs of the city and address the concerns people are bringing (forward).”
Like Covey and Flom, Kuyper found Rossing to be fair when making decisions.
“You can’t be wishy-washy,” said Kuyper. “You have to get input from the people, then make decisions for the good of the people. I think she’ll do that.”
Ready to go
Since the Nov. 4 election, Rossing’s spent a great deal of time preparing to be mayor.
She’s met weekly with the interim city administrator and each of the 2009-11 council members, sitting and newly elected.
The meetings with the council members, she said, were an opportunity to understand each person’s goals and interests. That, she believes, will be a huge benefit as the council moves forward.
She’s also met with representatives from most of the city’s boards and commissions. Those sessions, she said, helped clarify for her each groups’ goals and allows her to know where to tap into for assistance on any number of projects.
“My hope is to get us moving in the same direction.”
Rossing also pushed for a day-long retreat for the new council, set for Jan. 2 where the seven will work on team-building and consider their decision-making process. She also hopes to discuss how best to use the various city planning documents.
Despite all the work, Rossing isn’t sure she’s quite ready to assume the gavel. “I hope so,” she said with a laugh. “Maybe the question is: Is Northfield ready?”
— Suzanne Rook can be reached at srook@northfieldnews.com or 645-1113.
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By: Martha on 12/27/08
Mary is the 'Tonic' Northfieldl needs! She has the gift of leadership and knows how to defuse and solve a troublesome situation.
By: charwinson on 1/1/09
Much luck to you Mary as you move forward.
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Mary is the 'Tonic' Northfieldl needs! She has the gift of leadership and knows how to defuse and solve a troublesome situation.
Much luck to you Mary as you move forward.