Friday, December 12, 2008

Plano mayor will not repeat

For the past seven years, Mayor Bill Roberts has found a way to balance his 14-hour work schedule as a truck driver with his duties as mayor.

But that has changed, and Roberts said this week that he will not, in fact, seek a third term for Plano's top office.

Roberts said his work schedule has changed at his company, USF Holland.

The mayor was assigned two weeks ago to begin work at 5 a.m. and end in the early evening. Instead of his regular 1:30 a.m. start, which allowed him to tend to city business, his new work schedule erases nearly any time for meetings, he said.

"I (now) have to scramble a little bit here with my sick, personal and vacation days to make my term work out. Every term for the last 7-1/2 years, there's been a chance of this happening," Roberts said.

Roberts had announced in late October that he planned to run for re-election.

But this week, he noted that USF Holland is trying to adjust to the new economic climate by implementing "a different philosophy," which came in the form of shift changes.

Economic growth

During his time as mayor, Roberts has previously said he is proud of the annexation and zoning of commercial property that has allowed retailers to come to town.
Also during his tenure, Waubonsee Community College announced a Plano campus, opening in 2010, and several properties downtown and along Route 34 have been acquired by the city.

"We laid a great foundation. With the challenging economy, we've done the right things. We've been frugal and careful," Roberts said.

Election in April

As far as the April election, at least one candidate, 4th Ward Alderman Bob Hausler, has publicly announced a run for mayor.

Roberts said he plans to express his support for a potential mayoral candidate, but would not disclose who just yet.

"There have been a lot of people who are disappointed (in the news) but it's beyond my control," said Roberts, who will serve a total of eight years as mayor when his term ends.

"I've gotten some very nice supportive phone calls," he added.

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