Imperial Valley press., 1938-04-12
PULLING TOGETHER
FOR A BETTER CITY

Tuesday, April y, the people of FL
Centro went to the polls to elect two men
to the city council
Actually, the election was several
weeks ago when only II. W. Fawcett
and p l.. Moore filed as candidates with
out opposition. On the face of it, the lack
of opponents indicated general satisfac-
tion with both men.
A new mayor will now be named. He
should be Herb" Fawcett whose domi-
nant position and years of service to
the city fully qualify him for that honor.
Commissioners will be chosen over the
various city departments. All in all, it
is time for setting a program, for lay
ing out city plan.
What sort of program will be devised
remains for the council to decide. 1t
is their responsibility and their task,
and how it is accomplished will interest
voters even more than the present lack
lustre election might Indicate
In composition, the council is an inter
esting study. For the past two years,
Councilmen Fawcett, Scriven and Eyer
have generally stood together as a ma
jority and Mayor Womack and council
man Harry Sones were linked in mi
nority position. The new setup leaves
Fawcett, Scriven and Eyer, while Sones
remains, and p L. Moore, who has the
reputation of saying what he thinks,
and doing what he says, becomes the
new Independent member not allied with
any group or faction.
Since the construction of the ball park
aroused considerable controversy, all the
members have taken on attitudes of con-
servatism, and independence. Thus, ap-
parently, with board of men prominent
for their enterprise, yet tempered with
caution, the outlook for the city admins
tration would appear most promising.
1t is to be hoped that much of the pro-
gram of the previous board be continued.
This would include the plan to economic
in city operation and increase efficiency
by centralizing city operating and cleri-
cal duties. Also, the park development
along South Fourth street, so far along,
should be continued to a completed state.
A united community spirit will back
the board in a program to lower taxes,
improve streets, complete the library
within the stated figure, start rebuild
ing the reserve fund for future contin-
gencies, stimulate wider use of the new
municipal ball park and also endeavor
to make the ball park more financially
productive.
The council must decide whether to
continue with its sale of tax deed lots
and doubtless will consider carefully
the advisability of bringing the effort
to a close And it will confront the
companion problem of what t. do in
the way of street improvement with re-
spect to new subdivisions. Other sub
jects will be: whether to start on a city
hall, or get along with what we have
for a few years more: how to further
economic on city personnel; the in
stallation of better bookkeeping and
accounting systems in the city clerks
department; in fact, a closer control
over and supervision of, the personnel
of the city clerks office which, few
voters understand, is almost completely
outside of the councils legal jurisdic-
ton.
By and large, the board will have
many problems. We wish them well,
and urge the taxpayers give them every
help in the solution of the many com
pick and perpleXing problems which
beset the path of Ell Centro.