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Mucci has served Steubenville well

The news that Steubenville Mayor Domenick Mucci won’t be seeking another term was not entirely unexpected but it still leaves a big hole in the city’s political leadership and future.

Mucci, who gaveled open his 25th year as mayor this month, would have been term-limited by the city charter after the next term, so the community would have been facing this vacuum in leadership eventually.

The shoes are big ones to fill. He has been in city government for 36 years. Mucci has, by his estimates:

* Attended 1,850 City Council meetings.

* Presided over 1,500 City Council meetings.

* Been a part of at least 50 special City Council meetings.

* Attended more than 2,000 committee meetings.

* Attended more than 5,800 various community events including everything from Memorial Day annual services to African-American community services.

The honors he’s received fill pages of a resume.

The numbers alone indicate the place Steubenville holds in Mucci’s heart. The stories that go with them are a virtual who’s who of Steubenville government and the issues it’s faced dating back to the mid-1970s, the stories and people who shaped the city and sent it on its course to where it is today — buffeted by the world and economic and national political events but still here and still striving.

And that’s the message Mucci passes to anyone who would take the office: Have the citizens and the city in your heart.

Mucci did more than just show up. He knew, by working with others, what was expected of the city, of council members, of the mayor, in just about any given situation.

Indeed, when there was a tough vote on the way, Mucci never, ever was wrong in knowing what the council’s vote totals would be. He said he was able to do that not by being some kind of political wrangler but by talking to others on the council, knowing where they stood, understanding their viewpoints even if he didn’t agree with them and recognizing that others are welcome to their viewpoints because they, too, are representing their constituents.

We advance a thought about all of that, too. Mucci came from the era when politics was politics but personal criticisms never entered into the dealings of one politician with another. It was an era when it was possible to vehemently disagree on the issues but shake hands when the meeting ended, or at least before the next public meeting started.

He has connections stretching from Market Street to Columbus to Capitol Hill. He has knowledge of rules and regulations and laws and grant programs and budgets that the next person in his office might not develop even after years.

He has lived and breathed politics and city business since he was a child working in his family’s print shop and the Democrat party stalwarts would come in to have political flyers printed up.

Mucci had a few personal issues during all those years, but it never impacted his ability to lead or the ability of the city to continue doing its business. He leaves office with his good name. Never has the hint or allegation of corruption tainted his 36 years of undivided service to the citizens of his hometown.

He says he’ll be available to anyone who asks but we know he won’t sit in the shadows doing second-guessing of the city’s leaders.

It’s not his style.

We can only hope the leaders of the city note the dignified way that Domenick Mucci has conducted the city’s business since his first election in 1982 to the city’s 2nd Ward council seat. Through years of rancor and agreement, through good times and bad and seven city managers and three other mayors, he’s kept the city’s best interests in his heart and foremost on his mind.

To say he will be missed doesn’t fully capture the void he leaves, but he hope he finds, or others find for him, ways to remain involved and leading.

Thank you for your service, Mr. Mucci.

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