A time of transition

Over the next week, we'll see a change in administration of city hall, from Joe B. McNeal to Mayor Tom Rist.

We welcome Rist to the job, and wish him the best of luck as he and the new city council begin to tackle a series of very difficult challenges facing the city, from economic diversity to infrastructure improvement.

And although McNeal lost the election, his administration had some successes that the new group will be able to build on. There were improvements in economic opportunities in Mountain Home (Marathon Cheese being the big one), and perhaps most importantly, and this is McNeal's real legacy, an improved attitude by citizens toward city hall. It was a friendlier, more open place under McNeal, and the new administration is expected to build on that legacy.

As McNeal leaves office he concludes (possibly) a remarkable political career -- eight years on the city council and election as the first African-American to be directly elected by any voters in Idaho to the position of mayor. Not bad for a kid from one of the poorer streets of New York, who joined the Air Force to expand his opportunities -- and took advantage of them after his retirement to become a key community leader in Mountain Home. Somehow, we expect his energy and enthusiasm won't disappear for long.

This has been a smooth transition of power, a tribute to the quality of character of both McNeal and Rist.

The city now moves on to a new era, part of the continuing evolution, and positive growth, of the city of Mountain Home.