Columnist: Mr. Mayor goes to Paris — but don’t expect a souvenir

Mayor Lionel Rivera heads for Paris this weekend — that’s France, not Texas.

There, he’ll wear business suits (under the required dress code) in meetings with environmental ministers and officials of privately owned waterworks systems.

“I have no idea how applicable that is here,” he said. In the United States, the government generally runs water systems.

His wife, Lynn, will tag along, at her husband’s expense. The mayor’s travel is courtesy of France.

Hizzoner’s days generally will begin at 10:30 a.m. and end after a 6:30 p.m. dinner. Lots of time for night life.

Although his colleagues approved of the city picking up incidental expenses such as an occasional cab fare, Rivera made it clear he won’t be on a spree of any kind. “No souvenirs for council,” he said.

Free parking

If he flies out of the Colorado Springs Airport, maybe Rivera can use his VIP parking pass.

The airport gives out passes to City Council members, the Airport Advisory Commission, El Paso County commissioners and top city executives.

But one says, “No thanks.”

The airport recently asked Commissioner Douglas Bruce to return his VIP pass, since he might be leaving office to fill an unexpired state lawmaker term.

Bruce responded, “Maybe the mayor can use (it). I tore it up when I received it. I do not take bribes, freebies, amenities or other gifts because of my status as an elected official. I retain this quaint notion that the citizens are the important people, and that we are public servants here to serve, not to rule.”

Bruce, you may recall from last week’s Spyglass report, wants county staff to call him “commissioner” and takes offense when they call him “mister” instead.

It’s not an ego thing, he insists.

“I’m only asking to be called commissioner at public meetings,” he said. “They call everyone else commissioner, but me they relegate to mister, because deep down they don’t want to acknowledge I won the election. They consider me an interloper.”

The anti-tax crusader also believes denying his title also is a way to demean his limited-government philosophy.

What’s in a name?

Speaking of titles, newly hired Colorado Springs City Manager Penelope Culbreth-Graft earned a doctorate of public administration from the University of La Verne, Calif. She starts Jan. 7.

Word at City Hall is you better get her title right. “She does want to be called doctor,” one insider confided.

Is that “Dr. City Manager Culbreth-Graft,” or will a simple “Dr. Graft” do?

A little favor?

When 40 or so cops showed up for the City Council debate Tuesday over police pay, their presence made an impact.

“We never feel so safe as when you’re in the room,” Councilwoman Margaret Radford quipped.

To which Police Protective Association board member Pete Tomitsch asked, “Will you validate my parking ticket?”

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazette.com