There is an adage that you never run for local community government for the compliments. It’s always a job with many more complaints built into it.
However, if your plan is to serve the city you live in then it’s an admirable task with long hours, red tape and slow-moving projects.
On April 4, 2023, Dalton Self won the mayor’s election for the City of Wagoner. The longtime resident, Wagoner High Graduate and Bulldog football player has made it through one year on the job.
There are some things people can see what Self has done during the regular monthly meetings. However, there are behind the scene actions to help people in need that he’s organized or had a hand in himself to see people get treated right.
Here are a few questions about the process and job.
Was your first year as expected?
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There has definitely been a lot of learning, also good days and bad. But, it has been an amazing opportunity to represent the great people of Wagoner and I love doing it.
What were your best personal accomplishments?
Being a voice for the people, building Lincoln Park and putting up playground equipment, starting athlete of the week (at the high school), starting cruise night in downtown Wagoner on Thursday nights, filling our museum with Wagoner History, being a part of the Junction that will be built where the burned out buildings were and bringing in a State forensic audit (for city accounts).
What was your biggest surprise?
Well, being a part of a municipality is like something I’ve never imagined. It’s a whole new ball game compared to the private sector. You can’t just do whatever you want and do it right then, it’s definitely a lot slower process with a lot more hoops to jump through.
What are your upcoming goals for the city?
We will continue to work for the citizens of Wagoner, change ordinances to allow our city to grow with our demographic. We are working extremely hard to bring in more housing and get another grocery store.
Do you feel it is good for the mayor of a city to go above and beyond to help its citizens where it does not conflict with your powers?
Absolutely and that is something that I pride myself in doing. We are Wagoner. I don’t believe I have attempted to help each citizen that has reached out to me.
What or whom has been your biggest help this past year?
You know that’s an extremely hard question. I have leaned from so many and called upon so many for help and guidance, but to list a few I would say Mayor Dainel Tarkington of Checotah, Neil King and Nate Morrison.
