mayor douma provides december update for citizens

Welcome to the Mayor’s Update.

The Mayor’s Update is an attempt, on a monthly basis, to better inform Orange City’s citizens and others on the progress and activities occurring within the community.  City Council decisions, retail and commercial development progress, business activities and other actions affecting the community will be included in a brief and, hopefully, informative manner.

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I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity of serving Orange City as its mayor for the past four years.  It has been a rewarding four years. Former President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying, Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. I was able to embrace that ‘prize’ in the field of education, working in various roles, for over 42 years.  Indeed, the arena of education was work worth doing.

 

Then, four years ago, I had the good fortune of being elected as Mayor of Orange City.  Once again, I was reminded of Roosevelt’s quote…the chance to work at work worth doing. I was given the opportunity to serve in the role as mayor of one of the finest communities one might imagine, to support the citizens’ vision for that community to be all Orange City should be, to work with City management, employees and staff of that community in a quest for daily excellence, and to partner with a City Council that continually held the welfare of the community at the center of all decisions made. Truly, the role of Mayor of Orange City has been work worth doing.

 

Some time ago, I received a bit of good advice, When you work or when you follow your passion, do it because you love to do it and are hoping to make a contribution. Give of yourself – of what you have and what you can give. If what you give makes a substantial difference, wonderful. If it doesn’t, that is okay too. In any event, give what you have. As mayor, I was privileged to serve along side many special people in attempting to make a difference on behalf of Orange City.  For the successes, it only happens through the collective efforts of many.  For those areas where I failed to meet expectations, I apologize.  Hopefully, the shortcomings were not due to a lack of effort.

 

So, thank you, Citizens of Orange City, for making my four years enjoyable and for making Orange City such a special place to live, work, and worship.

 

Finally, I want to wish Mayor-Elect Deb DeHaan the very best.  She will serve our community extremely well as she assumes her responsibilities on January 1, 2014.

 

Les Douma

Mayor, Orange City