I was ‘on the road again,’ as Willie Nelson would say — destination Pittsburgh. I haven’t traveled much the last couple of years because of my health, which includes back and hip issues. Almost all my miles have been within Lycoming County, except those in the adjacent counties that receive the Webb Weekly.

I have always loved Pittsburgh. A trip early in my life, when Mr. Joe Leece invited my father and me to Three Rivers Stadium to watch the defending Super Bowl champ Steelers, sealed the deal. I have a long story about that trip that I should cover again, closer to football season. The most important fact in the story is that it wasn’t until we were inside Three Rivers that we found out we were seated in Art Rooney’s private box.

For those of you thinking I was in Pittsburgh for the NFL draft, that would be a great guess; the city showed up and showed out for that amazing event. I was there the week following for the Pittsburgh City Marathon. Jimmy gives you more details about the how, what, and why in his column on Page 38.

I have seen the Steel City at its best, its worst, and now in what I have to consider a Renaissance, focusing on the greatness of its big city charm and atmosphere within small town city limits. This is supported not only by those who call Pittsburgh their home, but by pretty much all of Western PA. They are steel-tough, hard-nosed yinzers, but now you have a much younger crowd that seems to embrace the art, entertainment, and technology of the Burgh as much as the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. They’re still as passionate as ever about their black and gold; however, it’s a little different crowd than those 70s, 80s, and 90s when I visited. I will finish this part of my column with, if I were a young man starting out today and wanted to live outside our area, I would choose Pittsburgh for many reasons. The marathon was an amazing event that definitely made Pittsburgh proud.

Pittsburgh and Williamsport have shared many of the same types of Pennsylvania challenges over the years. The citizens of these towns and surrounding areas have much in common. They are hard-working and love athletics from youth sports to the professional level. Both are influenced heavily by the nearby colleges and universities. And there’s no shortage of churches, watering holes, or great restaurants. Pittsburgh is on a major league level, while Williamsport is more on the smaller minor league level. Both depend heavily on hospitality and tourism. Both are facing the same problems, whether it be with crime, drugs, or the affordability of housing. This brought to the forefront for the elected by the realities of trying to balance a budget, provide public safety, and job opportunities.

So, where am I going with this? Both Williamsport and Pittsburgh have never looked better. Both are on an upswing; there are towns of similar sizes that can only wish to be where both are currently. Williamsport and Pittsburgh both have a strong mayor form of city government. Now obviously, this only applies to those who live and actually vote in the cities.

Remember, in a strong mayor model, the mayor is the chief executive officer; the city council is the legislative branch. A mayor serves a four-year term. In Williamsport, there are seven city council members; in Pittsburgh, there are nine. It has always worked very well in Pittsburgh and in Williamsport.

I have followed Williamsport, and no matter the political affiliation, when the voters of Williamsport are ready to make a change in the mayor, they do. This, of course, is based upon the current events of the time and their job performance.

It has been proposed in Williamsport, and the voters will have the chance to respond to whether the current system should be changed to a Home Rule Charter. Which basically means the city council has much, much more authority, and the voters don’t decide who runs the city. Now I’m simplifying this for most to be able to understand. The mayor is replaced with a paid full-time city manager who answers to the city council, not the voters.

I believe it is up to the voters of Williamsport to decide who runs the city at the election booth; it’s easier to change one person being the mayor than to change an entire city council to get to who’s running the city.

Simply put, if the mayor is doing a bad job, and I’m not saying he is, you vote him out. It appears what’s happening in Williamsport runs much deeper and is an attempt to change the form of government by a current sitting city council for a personal agenda.

If a potential council member running for election had campaigned on this idea and then gotten elected, it would give this merit, but this appears like a power grab of opportunity by those who are supposed to be working with the mayor for the taxpayers.

Please don’t take this as a criticism of the current city council or the mayor, as anything but my thoughts based on a lifetime observation. I don’t have a horse in the race and trust the voters of Williamsport will have their ballots heard if they understand what they are being asked.

Please get out, no matter where you live, and vote in your local primary elections on May 19th. The most important elected officials are the ones closest to your home. And yes, there are also those questions on ballots that will determine the way your local government is shaped and who and what you’re voting on in November.

God Bless America.