City of Parkland Commissioner Bob Mayersohn, Mayor Rich Walker, and Commissioner Ken Cutler. {City of Parkland}
A Message from Mayor Rich Walker
One of the great privileges of serving as Mayor of Parkland—and there are many—is working alongside others who love our City as much as I do. For the past six years, two as a Commissioner and four as Mayor, I have served with Commissioner Ken Cutler and Commissioner Bob Mayersohn.
While we work together on the important business of Parkland, I also consider them my friends. That isn’t to say we always agree. Sometimes we do, but many times we disagree. And that’s exactly the way it should be. We share a passion for our City, but we have different views of it and that naturally produces varying opinions. The real value of those varied opinions to the residents of Parkland, however, lies in our ability to disagree amicably. It’s nothing personal, you’re entitled to your opinion as I am mine, I want to know why you hold a particular opinion, and I hope you want to know why I hold mine. Sure, there are easy issues that come before us on which all members of the Commission agree. But when the choices are hard, and when we’re faced with choosing the lesser of several bad options, varied views help all of us understand all perspectives and cast responsible votes in the best interest of our residents.
So, as Commissioners Cutler and Mayersohn have reached their term limits and depart this month, I want to thank them for their service to the City of Parkland. For eight years they have been tireless advocates for the residents of their districts and for all Parklanders. They are the only remaining members of the Commission who were serving on our City’s darkest day. On February 14, 2018, the unthinkable happened. We were stunned, we were devastated, we grieved together, we grew together, and to this day we continue to deal with the aftermath while remembering the victims we lost. We do our best to support the families of the 17, the injured victims, and the countless victims who were at school or in our community that day and still feel the trauma. All of that support began on that Wednesday afternoon while Commissioners Cutler and Mayersohn helped lead the City through those difficult times. And to be sure, they have instilled in those of us on the Commission now, that we will never stop supporting those who need it and we will always remember those we lost.
It is an honor to serve this City, and it is a luxury to do so with friends. Bob and Ken have been that to all of us on the Commission. But their service to our community began long before they were elected by our residents to the City Commission. Ken has always been a historian for Parkland and heavily involved in the Parkland Historical Society and the Parkland Friends of the Library, that dates back nearly 30 years. Bob has been involved in Parkland Buddy Sports and has served the City as a member of the Education Advisory Board and the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board before running for a seat on the City Commission. They have long since had others in mind. So, thank you Commissioner Ken Cutler and Commissioner Bob Mayersohn for your unwavering service to the City of Parkland and all of its residents. Thank you for your thoughtful input, your tireless efforts, the long nights and weekend work, and your passion for the City we all love. It has been a privilege to serve alongside you. And while we wish you the best of luck in everything you do in the future, we will never forget the lasting impact you have had on Parkland.
If you would like to share your thoughts or if you have questions or comments you would like to share, I would love to hear from you. I can be reached via e-mail at rwalker@cityofparkland.org or via cell phone at (973) 390-1453. I am frequently available monthly at Parkland businesses and love to talk with residents there. I encourage you to visit the City’s website, cityofparkland.org and click on the social media icon that you prefer, to ensure that you stay informed on events and helpful information.
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