Bob Lucas' goal is visibility

He plans to work in each city department to understand workers' experiences.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Sharon residents can expect to see their new mayor doing some very unmayoral-like duties.
Bob Lucas, who will take office in January, says he plans to spend time working in each city department doing everything from collecting taxes to working on streets.
"That's not to spy on people, but to really understand what they go through," said Lucas, who got the idea from the Travel Channel program "American Casino." On the reality program, Green Valley Ranch General Manager Joe Hasson spends time working in each department from the casino floor to the laundry room.
The mayor elect says he expects to work in the city street department during his first three weeks of office and then move onto other departments throughout the year. It's a practice he hopes to continue each year.
"My main goal in the first six weeks is to convey an attitude of, 'wWe can do this' and focus on the positive and not the negative," Lucas said.
Lucas said he will not work in the fire department because he is already familiar with its practices as a retired firefighter.
The mayor-elect said he has already conveyed to the current department heads that they will remain in their jobs when his term begins. Changes will only be made if those department heads won't work with him.
'What's best for Sharon'
"I have no political agenda. The litmus test I'm following is what's best for Sharon," he said.
And to keep his goal visible, Lucas intends to have two quotations on his office walls.
One from President John F. Kennedy states "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
The second quote by Aristotle, "A great city is not to be confused with a populous one," hit the heart of Lucas' feelings about his home.
"Sharon can never be a big city, but it can be a great one," he said. "My goal is to convey the positive."
He cites affordable housing, the riverfront, a historical district, the potential of the Columbia Theater, Penn State Shenango campus and an active downtown association as assets.
Lucas would also like to see cleaner neighborhoods, and he intends to have code enforcement officers work different shifts, so the office will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., instead of the current 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fostering relationships
He's also supportive of the upcoming home rule study that council, where he remains a member until he's sworn in as mayor, voted to approve last month. Lucas said he will support it, even if it means the end of his job as mayor.
"If it's better for Sharon, I'll be the first one to stand up and say, 'OK,'" he said.
Until then, he's hoping to foster a good working relationship with city council that includes sharing all city financial information.
"If people are going to believe in me, then I have to be totally honest with these people," he said.
Lucas also intends to be a very visible mayor attending functions such as the upcoming American Cancer Society's "Breakfast with the Mayor-Elect" on Dec. 15 at the Sharon American Legion, and just going to neighborhoods.
"The more people I meet, the more people will know where I'm coming from, and the more we can get done," he said.
cioffi@vindy.com