It was 5:00 p.m. They walked through the north entrance, they streamed in the south entrance and all six elevators whizzed up and down carrying employees to the elevator lobby. Within minutes the spacious south lobby was full of people. The crowd then spilled over into the center security reception area and the north lobby.

The friends and supporters of Heather Fargo, the Honorable Mayor of California's capital city, Sacramento, had come to City Hall to celebrate and and give respect to her achievements while lamenting their loss very of very popular and effective leader. After 19 years of often thankless public service to our city she had been voted out of office!

The gathering was a tribute to her personally and professionally as one speaker after another recited her years of service and accomplishments. As one listened to her long list of impressive achievements, one could not help but ask why had she lost? How could the people of this city have turned their backs on such an effective and devoted public servant? A leader, who in spite of our city manager form of government which gives no management power to a mayor and the city's periodic troubled fiscal times, advanced through collaborative efforts the city to where it is today?

The answer to these questions will forever be speculated but never understood by those who worked with her and knew her best. However, the reality is that in today's media sound bite culture, the majority of the voters favored an inexperienced but famous photogenic sports celebrity.

I wish him well. He must do well for the sake our city. I, for one stand ready, if invited, to join in on making his "together we can" campaign pledge a reality.