MARYSVILLE — Dave Weiser thinks the challenges he’s faced the last 12 years as mayor will help him in his new career.
Weiser will become the new city manager at Ocean Shores next month.
"It’s been a whirlwind around here," he said.
Marysville’s chief administrative officer, Mary Swenson, stuck her head in his door and laughed.
"She knew," he said. "The realization is finally dawning that I’ll no longer be the mayor of Marysville. It’s bittersweet."
Weiser, 55, is wrapping up his third term as mayor and was active in the community long before that. He attended Marysville schools, and he and his wife of 35 years, Kathy, 54, raised their three children here.
"I had a great working relationship with the staff and the (city) council," Weiser said. "It was an easy camaraderie."
But he’s looking forward to the new challenges, as well as to returning to Marysville in the future to keep an eye on projects that began under his tenure, such as the State Avenue improvement project.
He’s leaving a city of nearly 30,000 for one with less than 4,000, but says he’ll have plenty to do.
"They have some neat projects that they’re working on," Weiser said. "They’re remodeling a convention center. They’re looking at putting in an aquarium. And they’ve recently redone their sewer system."
In a city with many retired residents that is heavily dependent on tourism, the sewer system gave the city the infrastructure to entice hotels and set itself up as a destination community, something Marysville has been working on as well.
Also like Marysville, the city has a tribal casino nearby and recently underwent a failed public vote seeking to change its form of government.
"There’s room for growth," Weiser said. "They get about 3 million visitors a year."
Weiser wants to make sure the council’s wishes are carried out in the convention center redevelopment and other projects. He’s already had one phone call and two e-mails from city employees in Ocean Shores welcoming him.
"That makes me feel good," he said.
Marysville officials say Weiser’s made his mark here and will be missed.
"The city’s had a huge amount of growth under Dave’s term," Swenson said. "A lot of it is going in a positive direction. He has given me huge opportunities to expand my knowledge and abilities. He’s just really been a pleasure to work with.
"I think the cooperation we’ve been able to gain recently with the city of Arlington and the work we’ve done recently with Everett and Lake Stevens have gone a long way toward helping us on a regional basis, and he has helped that a great deal."
Weiser also influenced Mike Leighan, who leaves the council this month.
"We’ve added a number of parks, we have cash reserves, we’ve been able to employ more police officers. It’s been a better city for having him as mayor. Ocean Shores is lucky to be getting him," Leighan said.
Among Weiser’s achievements: working on an agreement to annex the city into the Sno-Isle Regional Library System and build the new library; purchasing property for a waterfront park; and improving the city’s relationship with Snohomish County, the Tulalip Tribes and surrounding cities.
"In Marysville, we were known for going it alone," Weiser said. "We’ve become more of a regional player."
He also is proud of agreements with Everett and Kimberly-Clark Corp. on a sewer pipeline and outfall; agreements with Arlington and Lake Stevens for court and jail services; and the State Avenue project, which has prompted other local businesses to spruce up at the same time.
"I’ve worked with 22 different council members," Weiser said. "It hasn’t all been peaches and cream, but overall, it’s been a good thing to share differences of opinion and be able to compromise."
Weiser said his wishes he could have done even more.
"Whether you’re here for six months or 16 years, there’s always things you wish you had more time to do," he said.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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