THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 2, 1997 TAG: 9612310014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 50 lines
The more that's reported about Chesapeake's new city manager, John L. Pazour, the better he looks.
Pazour, who starts his new job today, has an undergraduate degree in economics, a background in business and a reputation as a good fiscal manager who will streamline City Hall and cut red tape that hamstrings business.
Previously he was city manager of the Denver suburb Aurora, population 250,000. There he promoted:
Community involvement. To combat gangs in Aurora, he appointed a community Gang Task Force and instituted a program called High-Intensity Community Oriented Policing.
Regionalism. Prior to Pazour's reign in Aurora, that city and Denver often didn't talk with each other. When an air force base there closed its doors, Pazour had his staff meet with Denver officials to see what could be done. Partly as a result, a community college has set up shop in some of the barracks. More cooperative projects between the two cities are in the works.
Aesthetic growth. Aurora, once the nation's fastest-growing city, was known for an endless labyrinth of cookie-cutter houses. It is receiving praise for new controls on housing aesthetics that Pazour instituted.
Economic development. Aurora built a well-designed golf course to encourage upscale development. A new toll road there is expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in business and residential development. Staff writer Mac Daniel reported, ``Pazour. . . has a reputation in Aurora for hands-on efforts on behalf of business.''
Recreation. Pazour and his wife, Cassie, are kayakers who plan to take up sailing in Chesapeake. As a business executive, he helped develop some of Colorado's top ski resorts. Personally and professionally, he knows the value of recreational facilities
Sound fiscal management. Aurora was said to be in weak financial shape when he took over. It's in far better shape now. Aurora's acting city manager, Charles Richardson, said, ``You don't lose sleep at night when John's got his finger on the budget. There's a real sense that we've finally made it out here, and a lot of that credit goes to John.'' Pazour's specialty, in fact, is finances.
For survival in the rough-and-tumble of Chesapeake politics, Pazour's most important quality may be his self-effacing nature. He is said to be slow to take credit and quick to dole it out. That is a tried-and-true formula for success.
Chesapeake, like every other city, has many needs. City Council seems to have picked the right man to help meet them.