Question 5: Some people are saying City Hall is hard to work with because Mayor Anderson and the City Council don't get along. Is the push and pull between the council and mayor a problem? Explain why or why not. Is the rift more the fault of the council or the mayor? As a council person will you seek friendly relations with the mayor or do you think city government works better if there is some tension between the two houses of government? Answer: Tension between branches of government has not been limited to this council and administration. While I would be the first to acknowledge that constant tension is not good, some does usually create better solutions. I have served as chair twice while Mayor Anderson has been in office and we have managed to compromise on issues that needed to be solved for the city. It hasn't always been easy, but both parties do their best and voters do a great job in making the determination on whether it should continue. Most issues are more collaborative than would appear, but because of their quick passage, get very little press. There is always room for improvement.