A new council dynamic

When the Chico City Council meets on Tuesday (Dec. 5), it will be for the first time in many years without Dan Herbert and Maureen Kirk as members. Like most people in Chico, we are grateful for their service to the community. Being a councilmember is an often thankless job that takes far more time and energy than most people realize, and anyone who takes it on deserves our appreciation.

Their absence, and the arrival of two new councilmembers, Mary Flynn and Tom Nickell, will change the dynamics of the council significantly. Of the three more conservative members of the former council, Herbert was most able to articulate his position clearly and compellingly, and his absence will leave the conservative side weakened not just by the loss of a vote, but also by the loss of its strongest voice.

Kirk, the most moderate liberal on the outgoing council, and Herbert had their share of tense exchanges but always mended fences afterward. We hope the new council, with its wider advantage for Kirk’s allies, will emulate their productive working relationship.

In the meantime, our thanks to Herbert and Kirk—and, to the latter, good luck in her new position as Butte County supervisor.