REDDING, Calif. — After a 42-year career as a civil engineer, Russ Wenham is turning his attention to public service with a run for City Council, saying the city’s finances, staffing and long-term growth are among the biggest issues facing its next leaders.
Wenham said he began seriously researching a potential campaign earlier this year, speaking with people throughout the community about the challenges facing the city and what residents want from council leadership.
“I really feel it both in my head and my heart,” Wenham said. “I began researching heavily earlier this calendar year, talking to anybody that would talk to me in town about, you know, how do we improve our City Council leadership? How do we lead well?”
He said those conversations repeatedly brought him back to the city’s financial situation.
“Budget, long-term finance, staffing, we’ve got some really big issues at hand,” Wenham said.
Wenham believes responsible economic growth will be an important part of improving the city’s financial outlook. He said he does not support rapid development, but wants the city to create an environment where existing businesses can succeed and new employers can invest.
“I’m not a ‘let’s grow like crazy’ guy,” Wenham said. “I’m a local boy. I want to grow very slow and sustainably and responsibly.”
At the same time, he said the city needs to make it easier for businesses to thrive and for residents to build careers locally.
“Unless we set the stage for businesses to thrive, for new businesses to be able to open, for careers to be established in this community, we’re going to be in trouble,” Wenham said.
Addressing the city’s budget problems could also require difficult decisions, Wenham said, particularly when reductions could affect employees or public services.
He said city leaders need to understand the consequences of those decisions while still being willing to make them when necessary.
“You have to do it just seriously, understanding the emotion, understanding the complexity, understanding that real lives are impacted and real services are impacted, but you have to just do it,” Wenham said.
Wenham said he believes council members will need to thoroughly examine the city’s finances and be willing to make difficult choices as they work toward a more sustainable budget.
“You have to have the courage to do it,” he said.
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Source: krcrtv.com
