Departing Wiser Praised by Council

Maverick Councilwoman Kathryn E. Wiser stepped down from her seat Tuesday during a ceremony at which she was described by colleagues as courageous in the face of opposition.

“While we’ve had our differences in terms of political positions, I never doubted Kathy’s courage,” Mayor Burnie Dunlap said.

Wiser, who opposed the city’s use of eminent domain to acquire land for redevelopment projects, often found herself at odds with her council colleagues on issues of redevelopment.

Dunlap cited the controversial Olinda Heights development project, which Wiser opposed, as an example of her influence on the council during the last four years.

“Although we disagreed, she challenged us to think of things we might not have otherwise thought of,” he said.

Wiser said that while she did not accomplish as much as she originally hoped to, she feels she did help influence the council in some ways.

“I feel I made the council aware that there were different ways of looking at things,” she said.

Wiser said she decided not to run for a second term because she had grown tired of being the council “outsider” and wanted to spend more time with her family.

The council welcomed new Councilman Marty Simonoff, who replaces Wiser, and swore in Councilwoman Bev Perry to her second term.

As part of its annual reorganization, the council unanimously elected Councilman Glenn G. Parker as mayor and Councilwoman Lynn Daucher as mayor pro tem.