As Holmes Beach prepares for a major, but smooth, transition in leadership, I write less as a longtime homeowner than as a long-retired American historian.
Historians and all of us know all too well that as we age, memories fade or play tricks on us. And we know, too, that exaggeration, to put it delicately, is expected in politics. But some recent campaign rhetoric badly distorted our local historical record.
Holmes Beach’s civic leadership, especially this last decade, has been impressive. Naturally, not perfect. With some actions open for disagreement. But through the COVID-19 pandemic, catastrophic hurricanes and a frontal assault on our community’s independence, we have been fortunate to have skilled, sustained and statesmanlike leadership from our mayor and commissioners.
The professionalization of our city’s staff and the balancing of support for development and preservation of our small-town culture are notable successes. And our community was restored from crisis by the hands-on, coordinated and cost-effective storm recovery effort. But we owe a special debt of gratitude for the political savvy and calm, measured resistance to the threats of the infamous parking garage and forced consolidation.
Change for change’s sake is as foolhardy as stasis. Let’s unite around continued progress.
As she completes service as a commissioner and our mayor, congratulations and appreciation to Judy Titsworth. And to former commissioner and now Mayor-elect Dan Diggins and his fellow long-serving commissioner Terry Schaefer, we look forward to you and your fellow commissioners building on past accomplishments to enhance life in Holmes Beach.
Tom Flynn
Holmes Beach
