A possible gridlock in Athens city government has been averted.
The Democrat-controlled City Council does not have to worry about playing nice with Republican mayoral challenger Randy Morris. After Paul Wiehl’s landslide win for his second term as Mayor yesterday, any worries of complications related to party affiliation have been put to rest.
Though some Council members, such as Council President Bill Bias, were concerned with Morris’s party affiliation, others were more concerned with his knowledge of city government.
“I really wasn’t so worried on Morris’s party affiliation,” said Councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward. “What matters more to me is knowledge, experience and attitude — that’s what I see and like in Paul.”
The bigger question about Morris’ potential performance as a mayor was his experience, said Councilman-elect Steve Patterson, D-At large.
“In terms of experience, if you’re going to play the military as your trump card and you’re talking about leading a crew of 5 or 6, know that’s different from running a city,” Patterson, who served in the air force, said.
Both Fahl and Patterson were at Casa Nueva with Wiehl last night just before the polls closed, and said they would work with anybody elected to office, Democrat or Republican.
Though a gridlock was possible, it would have depended on how Council adapted to a Republican mayor, Wiehl said shortly after he was projected to win.
“If you’re looking at Athens as a microcosm of the United States, then it’s very possible a gridlock could have happened,” Wiehl said. “But on the other hand, that all would have depended on how (City Council) adapted to a Republican mayor. But I guess that’s all speculation now.”
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