Jimmy Haley has taken his oath of office as Warren County Executive. In a matter of hours, Haley is expected to submit his resignation and no longer be mayor of McMinnville.

Feel free to burst into tears, make a toast, go into denial, or display the emotion of your choice.

Haley's departure after a six-year reign means Ben Newman will be our new mayor, the first of what could be many changes on the horizon for city government.

With an open seat on the city board, officials could opt to fill that seat immediately, or shift into low gear and take their time. I'm guessing there won't be a mad rush.

Beyond that appointment, we have city elections just two months away. How many voters will show up for a third time in 2018?
For those who do, there are three McMinnville alderman seats on the Nov. 6 ballot and all three incumbents, Steve Harvey, Ryle Chastain, and Everett Brock, are seeking re-election.

Local voters were in the mood for change when electing Warren County Commissioners earlier this month. Will there still be that same ambiance in November?

It's hard to really know how city voters were feeling two years ago because there were only four candidates running for three alderman seats in 2016. That included all three incumbents so we knew going in there would be minimal change.

This year will be much different as there are seven candidates running for three seats. That means there's a chance for three new board members, which is what happened in 2014 when these three were elected from a field of eight.

To borrow a phrase from national politics, McMinnville residents have to ask are we better off now than we were four years ago? Is there a bigger chicken in every pot?

We know city finances have never been better. That's in large part because: 1) the city's successful sales tax lawsuit against the county, 2) revenue from wine and liquor, and 3) a property tax rate that's among the highest of any municipality in the state.

We know the new skate park is a radical addition to our recreational offerings. As someone who jogs by the skate park at night, I can say it's being well-used and enjoyed. Great move!

The Park Theater opened in May 2015 and is an absolute glowing star on McMinnville's landscape. This group up for re-election wasn't responsible for funding the $2 million renovation project, but it has done a solid job of molding the venue into a centerpiece of our community.

As for the blue elephant in the room, in this case the Blue Building, it has continued to deteriorate and sit vacant for another four years. Another note, it's been four years and the push for an indoor pool continues to be smothered by a pillow. Yet the city wants to expand the Civic Center. I don't understand this.

All that said, we have the makings of an intriguing city election in just over two months. I think there will be change. I just don't know how much.

Standard editor James Clark can be reached at 473-2191.