Perception is reality

That’s why we urge all elected officials to consider the public’s perception before moving ahead with issues like these.

Former Mayor Shawn Mason, who has one week under her belt in the new position, said she removed herself from all discussions and votes on the position once she decided to become a candidate.

But consider the perception of the public when the council agreed to create the new position in May, named Mason as a finalist in June, in July she is offered the job, and resigns as mayor later the same month, and begins the position the next day.

We understand the desire for a director of economic and community development for International Falls. After all, the city has a number of projects in the works within its limits and it makes sense to have someone take the lead to move them forward.

And we understand that the Koochiching Economic Development Authority, made up of city, county and at-large members, may not always be the right venue to accomplish the goals of International Falls. The KEDA Board must balance the interests of the rest of the county with the county’s largest populated community when it comes to actions and funding issues.

But perception is reality for the public and to many, the process has a bad smell.

Perhaps a better process would have been for Mason to resign from her position as mayor the moment she realized she would be a candidate for the director position.

Don’t get us wrong. We, like everyone in the county should, wish Mason all the success in her new job. We want her to attract new businesses that offer great-paying jobs and to help existing businesses grow and add jobs. What’s good economically for International Falls is good for the rest of Koochiching County and its residents and businesses.

But if the public’s perception is that something is rotten in Borderland, that success could be hard to come by.