MAYOR’S MESSAGE: City of Mount Pleasant Hosts Gathering of East Texas City Management Association
City Manager Ed Thatcher hosted the East Texas City Management Association’s monthly luncheon on September 29 at the Mid-America Flight Museum with Scott Glover, owner/curator of the museum, and Pilgrims sponsoring the gathering.
Last week City Manager Ed Thatcher hosted the East Texas City Management Association’s monthly luncheon at the Mid-America Flight Museum with Scott Glover, owner/curator of the museum, and Pilgrims graciously sponsoring the gathering.
The association’s membership is made up of city managers, assistant city managers, police and fire chiefs, and staff directors from cities throughout the region who meet to discuss common issues, ideas and solutions.
Maybe I am biased as a sixth generation Mount Pleasant resident, but Northeast Texas is truly the best region in the best state in America! Each of the regional leaders who attended this luncheon play a vital role in making this possible as they serve their citizens and plan for the future.
City management and service truly is a 24/7 responsibility, as I know that even if we are not in the office or chambers at City Hall, the community is never far from our thoughts.
City management is a profession of passion and public service, and as a Mayor who gets to work closely with our own City manager, I see that on a daily basis. In fact, as Mr. Thatcher imparts to us and his staff regularly, municipal government is the closest government to the people.
It’s the only level where your citizens can walk into City Hall and talk to staff face to face. It’s the only level where they can come to a city meeting and have the opportunity to easily address their elected leadership in person.
To me, my fellow colleagues on the council, and all of our City staff, this is inspiring. It’s also a huge responsibility that we all take very seriously. By taking time to gather each month as a region to network, I believe that we are blessed to have many people around us who are committed to ensuring Northeast Texas REMAINS the best region in the best state of America.
May God Bless the City and citizens of Mount Pleasant and Northeast Texas!
Tracy Craig, Sr.
Mayor
Above Left: Mount Pleasant resident and Viet Nam Veteran Gary Gingrich talks to attendees about his experience as a helicopter pilot during the war, flying the Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed “Huey”). The museum exhibit includes a Huey that still operates. Above Right: Curator/owner of the Mid America Flight Museum duplicated the Viet Nam Memorial Wall located in Washington DC in the museum. The names of those lost or missing are arranged alphabetically.
