
Leadership Void
Mayoral leadership requires confronting tough issues, listening to varying viewpoints, building coalitions and carrying out strategic plans. Mayor Wheeler has none of those skills.
Backward looking vision
Mr. Wheeler’s official Kitsap County Electdions ‘Pamphlet Statement’ reads like a history chapter. Every verb is in the past tense. ‘Created’, ‘added’, ‘built’, ‘rezoned’, ‘cleaned’.
He offers no solutions for today’s problems, much less tomorrow’s. Transportation? Housing? Homelessness? The budget crunch? Dealing with the Feds?
If Mr. Wheeler has solutions, he’s not telling anybody.
Unable to communicate, work towards consensus or lead
Mr. Wheeler is not leading on Bremerton’s many challenges: budget deficit, rapid population growth, traffic congestion, homelessness. Nobody know what the Mayor believes on any of these issues, because he never speaks publicly, has never had a press conference, doesn’t interact with citizens who disagree with him.
Mr. Wheeler is a conflict avoider. If a tough message needs sent, the mayor sends one of his underlings out to deliver it. He’s unable to craft coalitions with Bremerton City Counselors or citizen activists. Unable to craft compromises and rally the city around the best idea.
Inconsequential Mayor’s Reports
The Mayor gives a report at the beginning of each City Council meeting. It’s the opportunity to discuss important challenges and point to solutions. Instead, he fills his time trivial happenings: new poet laureate, park clean ups, sewer project updates.
Instead of leading, Mr. Wheeler speaks inconsequential happy-talk. We deserve better
See for yourself: Mayor’s Reports