This letter was originally posted April 18, 2007

Being a City Council member means being a leader for the community. I would like to applaud the Littleton City Council members on their leadership with their decision to allow the placement of a bronze replica statue honoring slain Navy Seal Danny Dietz, who died fighting for our County in Afghanistan. Being on a City Council, I know that it is never easy to make contested decisions.

As a current member of Thornton's City Council and a leader of the community, I find myself consistently determining the wants and agendas from members of a group (no matter how large) vs. what you believe the majority of your community would want. From personal experience, I can say that these types of decisions have kept me up many nights. Some of these decisions can come with threats from very passionate individuals, which can be taken very personal.

My council experience has taught me to weigh through all the testimony from public hearings to sort and distinguish between personal opinion and fact. In the end I find that you are somewhat alone with your vote and the consequences, good or bad, usually become your own. Also, when there are heated issues there are often false accusations from one side and at that point the City Council must to come together to ensure that the right decision is made for their community.

Such is the life within Representative Government, and I applaud my fellow colleagues in Littleton for waging the good fight. To the parents of Danny Dietz, I offer my sincere thank you for your family's sacrifice for our country. Being the father of a son who has completed two tours in Iraq, I have personally felt what families go through with a deployed family member, but I can only imagine your pain. It is reassuring to see good leadership at the local level coupled with a positive outcome for the community of Littleton.

Thank you
Mayor Pro Tem
Marty Wisniewski