HomeMy WebLinkAboutMary Lib Saleh - Fort Worth Star Telegram - leaving officeLOGIN Fort Worth Star-Telegram
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I EDITORIALS I
Euless mayor has picked her time to leave the
offi.ce
lt was 1993. Mary Lib Saleh, bl, a grand.motherly homemaker, always ready for a
challenge but quite happy as an expert in ikebana, the Japanese art of flower.
arranging, had served on the Euless City Council for four years, the last two as
mayor pro tern.
When 18-year Euless Mayor Harold Samuels decided not to run for re-election,
Saleh ran for the office.
So did businessman Glenn Walker, 55, and attorney Neal Adams, 47.
Saleh and Adams went on to a runoff, which she won handily with more than 55
percent of the vote.
Adams has remained active in local and state politics. For Saleh, it was her last
serious political challenge. She's been the mayor of Euless and one of the most
respected leaders in Northeast Tarrant County ever since.
Now she says it's time to step aside; her name is not on the May ballot for the first
time in 25 years. Her simple explanation: "I want to go out while the city is in such
good shape."
In fact, Euless has seen mostly smooth sailing with Saleh at the helm. A supportive
council and a succession of strong city managers has helped, but her calm
demeanor has set the tone for steady progress.
Economic development, one of her strongest platform planks in 1993, has taken off
of late, especially along Texas 121. Park and recreation facilities, notably the Texas
Star complex, have made Euless a magnet for visitors.
The Euless library, a Saleh love from the beginning, is going strong.
Just a year into her first term as mayor, a local resident with a grudge took
advantage of a provision in the city charter that made it easy to file a recall
petition against Saleh.
Not m any times ha ve the people of Euless seen her ge t mad, but that was one ofthem. A waste of time an d money, she said.
She wa s right. The reca ll e lection went more than 5-1 in he r favor b ut cost $5,000.
That vote also served to loc k Saleh's gri p o n the mayor's ch air. People in the city o
fnearly 53,000 just like her. T hey'll be sorry she's leaving.