Deer Park Mayor-Elect Preparing To Take Office

Mike Wolfe, Deer Park’s newly elected mayor, didn’t ride a tidal wave of enthusiasm into office. His victory could be described as an overexuberant trickle.

Doug Box, Wolfe’s challenger, dropped out of the campaign two weeks before the race, citing personal and health reasons.

Even though Box was listed on last week’s election ballot and grabbed 15 percent of the vote, any suspense to the race was gone when he announced his withdrawal.

Wolfe even admitted the election lost a lot of zeal after Box dropped out.

“It would have been nice if Doug hadn’t had to pull out,” Wolfe said. “It would have been more fun, more interesting.

“But at the same time I wanted the position, so I can’t really complain,” he said.

Wolfe said he will spend the next few months getting caught up on city government affairs.

Wolfe becomes mayor on Jan. 1 and will replace Bob Dano, who did not seek re-election.

“There isn’t one particular thing that heads any kind of list of things I need to do,” Wolfe said. “The first few months will be getting up to speed. There’s nobody I’m going to walk in and fire, there’s nothing I’m going to walk in and change.

“There will undoubtedly be some changes made, but nothing on day one,” he said.

Wolfe served as a city councilman during the 1980s. He said one of his top priorities will be to make sure Deer Park has a good public image while trying to recruit small and light-industrial businesses.

“I’m eager to take office. I’ve had good support out there, and it’s going to make the job a lot easier.”

In other government news, Helen Cragun and Patricia Barden were elected to the city council. Both candidates were running unopposed.

, DataTimes