A first for Balaton
In January, the city of Balaton will have its first woman mayor, Cynde Livingston.By Deb Gau
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BALATON
When she filed for candidacy this summer, Cynthia "Cynde" Livingston said, she didn't realize she'd be setting a precedent.
"After I signed up," Livingston said, she was talking with some community members who served as election judges in Balaton. "They said they didn't think we ever had a woman as mayor."
They were right. Livingston was elected mayor of Balaton last week, and when she takes office in January, she will be the first woman mayor in the town's history.
"We have had a female acting mayor," she said, a few years back. But Livingston would be the first woman elected to the office.
Livingston grew up in Balaton, but spent several years living in Wisconsin. She returned to Balaton in 2004 after she retired, and she now works part time as a librarian and food service worker at Balaton School.
Livingston said she hadn't really looked at filing for mayor as getting into local politics.
"Someone has to be mayor," Livingston said. At first she had wanted to file for city council, she said. "But they had already filled all of those spots. All that was left was mayor. I talked with our current mayor, and I guess he felt I could do it."
Livingston said she didn't think being the first woman mayor would cause any difficulties. There have been women serving on city council for some time, she pointed out.
"It's a small town," she said. "I have as much power as the city council members, and the city clerk does a lot of the work."
Mostly, Livingston said, her first challenge will be familiarizing herself with the job.
"It will take some time," she said. "I went to the city council meeting the other night, so I found out how that works." She's also been keeping in touch with Del Rutz, Balaton's current mayor, and the city clerk.
"As far as talking with him, he's congenial, he's been just fantastic," she said.
Livingston said she's also been researching her responsibilities and the city code. There were a few surprises there.
"In my responsibilities, I found out I'm also the weed inspector," she said, laughing. "I'll have to take care of the noxious weeds."
On a more serious note, Livingston said she's trying to look ahead to some of the the issues facing Balaton. The city has a well head protection project going to a public hearing in January, and there's the possibility of Balaton School closing or consolidating with the Tracy School District.
"I'm kind of trying to work with our superintendent to see if he has any ideas I might be able to present to the city," she said. An empty school would have a serious effect on the town.
"I just want (Balaton) to stay alive, and to thrive," Livingston said.
Livingston said she realized there may be times when she won't make everyone happy as mayor. The Balaton newspaper had printed a letter criticizing her suggestion that the city start dealing with nuisance animals like feral cats. But, she said, it will be an honor to be mayor, and she's also gotten some good responses.
"The best was from the kids (at school)," Livingston said with a smile. "They said, 'The mayor is serving us lunch.'"
