Citizens of Natchitoches –
I would like to take this time to express my gratitude and appreciation in serving the City of Natchitoches for the past 28 years. The time has come for me to pass the torch on to the next mayor. I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to thank the citizens of the City of Natchitoches for entrusting me to serve as mayor of this great city. In addition to having been elected as mayor for the past 8 years, serving for 20 years on the Natchitoches City Council is also a task I have been privileged to be a part of. Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I did not choose this job, but it chose me in April of 2012 when I was humbly elected to serve the citizens of Natchitoches. I can honestly say I have loved every minute of what I consider my “dream job” and am honored to have served a city I love immensely. As I now move on to the next chapter of my life, I want to challenge the citizens of the City of Natchitoches to continue working together and moving forward to ensure Natchitoches’ future is one our citizens are proud to call home, while striving to strengthen our city as one.
Thank you,
Lee Posey
Lee, thank you for your years of service. Your expression of appreciation to the citizens of Natchitoches is an example of your wonderful nature and great character. It is Natchitoches that owes you a sincere thanks for all that was initiated by you and completed during your term(s) as mayor. Little by little, the City has made meaningful improvements that greatly enhance the quality of life for not only our citizens but also our guests from all over the country and world.
Governing a $70 million municipal corporation is a complex responsibility. Budgeting, municipal accounting, financial responsibility, contract management, personnel, emergency preparedness, economic promotion, community relations, peacekeeping and law enforcement each require time and skill. These skills are developed over years of being active in municipal governance. Having spent 20 years as a council member more than adequately trained you for election as our Mayor. We trusted you with this responsibility and you remained trustworthy. You performed as you were suppose to. Thank you.
PLEASE remain active as a senior ambassador to the new mayor and council. Each of the recently elected needs to understand not only the duties and responsibilities of serving in their executive and legislative posts but also HOW to do what they are called upon to do. I trust the sincerity of those who were recently elected and hope that they will favorably consider engaging in municipal governance orientation through Public Affairs Research or any one of the many other resource organizations that are available.
Enjoy your retirement and this Friday, leave City Hall with a sense of a job well done.
With great respect and best wishes,
Coley Gahagan