After making it through his first few days as Mayor of Bowling Green, Richard Edwards is finishing his return to the city and moving to the Mayor’s office by adding a “touch” of his own personality.
“There’s just a couple of touches here and there yet,” Edwards said. “Just a few more things to go, but I think I’ll keep it [the decor] to a minimum.”
Edwards’ office only displays a few decorations, including an award he received for Bowling Green Citizen of the Year in 2008 – just one of the honors and positions in Edwards’ career.
Edwards was sworn in Dec. 28., adding mayor to a list that also includes several jobs at the University. His first official day, Jan. 3, ended with a city council meeting.
“It all went very well,” Edwards said. “Luckily, no one has called me yet at 12 a.m. with a problem.”
Although Edwards has only been in office a little more than a week, Municipal Administrator John Fawcett and former Mayor John Quinn have been transitioning Edwards into his position since fall 2011.
“The relationship I have with Dick is very similar to my relation with John Quinn,” Fawcett said. “Couldn’t ask for a smoother transition.”
Fawcett has known Edwards for the past 25 years and has worked with him on and off for the past 15. If Fawcett were to have chosen Quinn’s successor, he would have “hand-picked” Edwards, he said.
“The respect I have for Dick Edwards is only growing over the years,” Fawcett said. “His philosophy of management is to seek and serve the citizens, the best we can.”
Edwards said he never thought he would ever “have the chance to return to Bowling Green,” but is excited to continue working with Fawcett while also working with people from the University again.
“I’m looking forward to a new relationship with the University and working with Mazey and faculty, staff and students,” Edwards said.
One student and member of city council working with Edwards is Daniel Gordon, a senior at the University who was elected to city council Nov. 8.
“It’s going to do a lot in bringing the campus and city together,” Gordon said. “We’ll be able to do a better job of that now.”
Gordon said he is looking forward to achieving such goals with Edwards, who he described as “very nice, personable and approachable.”
While Edwards’ Citizen of the Year award is one of only a few decorations hanging in his office so far, he has worked throughout Ohio and in Washington, D.C.
While at the University, Edwards previously worked as a journalism teacher, secretary to the Board of Trustees and vice president of University relations. Edwards even worked with President Mary Ellen Mazey when he left the University in 1984 to be senior vice president at Wright State University.
“It’s a real pleasure to work with University President Mazey again,” Edwards said.
Edwards was a member of the presidential search committee that chose Mazey and was part of the inaugural committee that helped plan her inauguration celebration in December.
Before becoming Mayor, Edwards also worked as Wood County administrator for about six years, he said.
Despite his long and involved career, Edwards said he hesitated at first when asked to run for Mayor of Bowling Green.
“When Mayor Quinn and some others asked me, I held off for about six weeks,” Edwards said.
When Edwards, a Republican, announced his run for mayor in December 2010 at Grounds For Thought, citizens and politicians from both parties were there to support him.
“Some of my friends who are Democrats even asked me if I would consider running as an Independent,” Edwards said. “It was very humbling. The local newspaper and some of the editors said the election was already over.”
