Woodbury's new mayor ready to face challenges

Mary Giuliani Stephens was sworn in last week as Woodbury's fifth mayor after winning election over five opponents last November. She takes over for Bill Hargis, who retired after 18 years.

She talked about her new role and some of the challenges facing Washington County's biggest city.

Q People know you from four years on the City Council, but what else should people know about you? What's your strongest quality as a leader?

A I've been in the community for 25 years and been involved pretty much through that whole time in a variety of ways. I really do love Woodbury. I do have a passion for the city and a desire to serve. I think I've been blessed in my circumstances. I have a husband, a fabulous husband, who supports me -- not only supports me in terms of running and being mayor, but financially as well. That's a blessing that not everybody has. Because as you know, this office does not pay a livable wage -- but I'm fine with that, because I want to give back to the community what I think my gifts are, which I think is leadership.

Of course, while I might be the face of the community while I'm out there, we all know it takes a lot of people. I think one of the reasons that I said 'yes' to' running for mayor is you look around and think, 'I'm surrounded by such bright and capable people.' From the other council members -- you know, Amy [Scoggins] and Paul [Rebholz], both have more experience than I do, and I love, really, the diversity of our gifts and expertise. I look at staff -- part of the transition plan that Bill put me through, he went around to staff to say his thank you's and goodbye's. And so I went around to staff and I thought, what a great opportunity to put a face to a name.

Q What did you learn from Mayor Hargis and how do you think you'll be different from him?

A Bill was certainly a mentor and he encouraged me to run. In terms of learning from him, Bill just has a great way -- he sits back, he listens, and when he does talk, everybody listens. He doesn't say a lot, but the few words he says always have a profound impact. So I think that's one of the things that I've learned -- and he did it for 18 years.

Q What do you see are some of the looming short- and long-term issues?

A I think for us here in the city, what I campaigned on, is economic development and bringing good jobs to the city. That's not unique to Woodbury, that's statewide and nationwide. So I see that not only as a challenge, but an opportunity for us. We're a city that has planned well and managed well in the past. So I think we've positioned ourselves to make decisions to come out of this recovery. We've worked, we've revised and updated our economic development plan in the last year, and we'll be implementing that in this upcoming year. So we'll be continuing to look at polices and procedures around development.

... Another thing that we've worked and planned on already, and that will continue to be a process over the next year, is the next phase of development for the city. [Phase II] is a residential development that includes a small but kind of exciting urban village concept. The biggest decision is the timing of that big sewer line [in the south end of the city].

Bielenberg [Sports Center] is a little longer term. [Replacing the building's domed roof] is in our capital improvement plan. But with the economic times, those things kind of shift further out, too. But the bubble itself is nearing the end of its useful life. We've started the process, but we're really in the very, very early stages of that.

Q What else are you looking forward to?