HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 01-25 A mayor is leaving THE DISPATCH East
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By Rouben Chanco
A mayor is leaving
Come May 16, Robert Bruton community,"he pointed out.
won't be Mayor Bob anymore. But through it all, Bruton has
That's when his resignation as made it a point not to fall into the
mayor of Maple- same trap.
wood takes "YOU DON'T call people rotten
effect. bums' because they don't agree
Many resi- with you."
' '2 dents already Bruton is resigning before his
' ` have expressed term expires because he will be'..,,,t. , ..0,
sadness that the moving to North St.Paul.
mayor they feel This is somewhat ironic because
_� stands up for some North St. Paul residents
their beliefs will.ilaren't too happy with Bruton
be leaving. either. They want Beam Avenue
Even some opened to through-traffic to help
Bruton non Maplewood them have a more direct access to
residents in met White Bear Avenue.
ropolitan area government circles But Bruton and his family al-
have told mg that Bruton will be ready have many friends in North
missed. St.Paul.
But the mayor himself will be "We have very significant ties
the first to admit that some other with my church (St. Peter's).
residents won't be wiping any That's very important to us," he
tears. said.
"I have heard people say that Lest anyone misunderstands,
until we get that mayor out, they Bruton isn't leaving Maplewood
will not get anything done right," with a bad taste.
Bruton told me recently.
"I've gotten the most apprecia-
OF COURSE, many of those tion of people who serve their
people are on the other side of the community — the volunteers who
ongoing Beam Avenue controver do something to make this place a
sy—the side that wants the street better place to live,"he said.
opened to through traffic. He mentioned such volunteers
The Beam Avenue issue has as firemen, hockey coaches and
been such a controversy that Bru- members of the planning commis-
ton, who lives on the street, men- sion.
tioned the uncertainty of its future SO MANY people take them
for granted, and it shouldn't be,"
in his letter of resignation to the
Bruton said.
city council.
"IT HAS BECOME a very sore Incidentally, Bruton Wasn't
going to run for reelection,even if
spot. People are pitted against
he stayed in Maplewood.
people. It's no longer a neighbor. "The demands of the position
hood. And the feeling is translated
in car pools and parties," Bruton were having a significant effect
said during an interview. on my personal and professional
"Foes give us a bad time, and life,"he said.
friends joke about it. But it's not This does not mean that Bruton
funny. I've been through it for five wont be involved in community
years, and it's getting worse, not affairs after he resigns.
better." "I don't like sitting around the
What particularly upsets Bru- house.I like to be active,"he said.
ton is that the attacks have be- "That's one of the things we're
come personalized, as if he alone going to miss,"a Bruton supporter
decided what was best for Beam said. "The mayor is leaving us,
Avenue. but another community is going to
"I'm not controlling the get a good man."