Danville mayor responds to election chatter

With the Danville City Council election heating up — and the potential for a new mayor in July — Mayor Sherman Saunders released a statement Friday afternoon regarding the duty of his office.

In the statement, Saunders did not address any specifics about Tuesday’s election, but instead explained how he feels about the office of mayor. To continue Danville’s progress, he said it was “imperative that a cohesive relationship exist and be maintained.” City Council members will vote on the position of mayor in July.

“The voters of Danville elected all nine of us for our individual positions on matters important to them,” the statement read. “Since Jan. 1, 2008, it has been my practice as mayor of the city of Danville to make absolutely certain that all decisions are made by all nine voting members of City Council. A rich diversity of opinions melded into a strong consensus through civil discourse will ensure that the city council maintains Danville’s momentum.

“As a body, it is our duty to find ways to mold varied positions into a unified effort that will make our city even better. We do this by debating the issues, and collectively arriving at sound conclusions that we believe are best for all of Danville.”

Saunders said “regardless of who becomes mayor in July,” working together was the only way to best serve the city.

Reached by phone Friday afternoon, Saunders explained he was simply stating his views on the office of mayor and responding to what he had been hearing regarding the mayor’s position.

On Wednesday, retired police chief T. Neal Morris announced he was running for City Council through a write-in campaign. He noted that one of his concerns was that he felt candidate John Gilstrap was considering an effort to unseat Saunders before Gilstrap is even elected to council. Gilstrap said no one had approached him about a bid for mayor.

“At this point, I do not know what to think,” Saunders said Friday. “But I wanted to make the statement that whatever happens, the office of mayor is a very important office and whoever becomes mayor in July, they should uphold that office. I choose not to get into all that, whatever it is.”

Both Gilstrap and Morris agreed Friday that Saunders’ statement was a positive one and both said they supported Saunders’ work as mayor.

“I’ve always been a supporter of Sherman’s,” Gilstrap said. “He’s a close friend. I’ve supported him in elections and I think he’s done a great job as mayor.”

Gilstrap also said no one has contacted him about being mayor or vice mayor, including Saunders. He said it would be premature for anyone to talk to him about it, as he is only a candidate and not on council. He said the response likely stemmed from the “indication that I was Larry Campbell’s friend,” but he said he was close with all nine council members.

“What (Saunders) said is essential,” Gilstrap said. “We’ve got to have teamwork. We’ve got to be unified … in a very professional, unified manner for our city to grow.”

Morris said he thought Saunders was “trying to have a calming effect” on the issue. Morris said he was not perturbed that someone might be trying to unseat Saunders, but that he just thought it was “a little unusual.”

“I think (Saunders is) saying exactly what I think he has done as mayor,” Morris said. “I think he has been a unifying person on (City Council). I think he has done everything he can possibly do in unifying councilmen … That’s why he’s been a good mayor.”