Town Government Will Miss Ahlert's Impact

The man who gets a lot of the credit for the town's strong financial position is taking it easy these days.

He no longer lords over the town's spending like a bear protecting her cubs. He no longer roars at anyone--from the Mayor on down--who might have a suggestion that strays from what he sees as strong fiscal policy.

"This town is going to miss Bob Ahlert," said Mayor Jody McLeod.

"I told the Town Council recently that when they make any decision concerning finances to consider in their minds 'What would Bob Ahlert do' before reaching a decision," the Mayor said. "I think everyone would feel better if we all did that."

Instead of spending his free time pouring over the town's financial records, the man who is generally considered the greatest councilman in the town's history is pursuing one of his neglected loves since losing his Council seat in last November's election--making high-quality, hand-crafted furniture. Beds, desks, tables and more--the type of furniture that gets handed down from generation to generation. He'll be playing golf, too, when the weather warms up a little.

"There's plenty to do," Ahlert said.

His loss in November was a surprise to almost everyone except Art Holder, who had campaigned for years to get a seat on the Council. Holder tied for a seat in the previous election, but lost through random chance when Councilman Alex Harding's name was pulled out of a hat instead of his. He campaigned even harder this time and won.

After 12 years in office, the last few as Mayor Pro Tem, and a stellar reputation, Ahlert didn't get out and campaign. He made a few calls, but not much else. When the results were in, the area media--which praised him lavishly for his long years of service--blamed his lack of campaigning.

"It's especially true in a growing town like Clayton that not everybody knows everybody anymore," said the Smithfield Herald in an editorial. "Clayton has a lot of newcomers who don't know their candidates, even ones like Mr. Ahlert, who boasted a long record of public service. We doubt that it was ever true that a candidate could rest on his laurels. We now have proof of that, especially in Clayton, where Mr. Ahlert had some of the best laurels of all."

When he moved here in 1995, Clayton was a town with a poor financial history, and things had gotten so bad that the State was threatening to take control. Ahlert said he went to an uninspiring Town Council meeting and thought, "This is pitiful." The town, and its poor finances, had become the butt of jokes.

It was then that he decided to get involved, winning a seat on the Council, and beginning an effort to improve the way the town handles its money. Soon, things began to change for the better, especially, he said, after Town Manager Steve Biggs was brought in to professionalize town operations.

"Clayton had a poor reputation then, but today, it's just the opposite," Ahlert said. "Today, Clayton has a great reputation for a professional, efficient government. Clayton couldn't say that 12 years ago. The town provides quality services, which it wasn't doing at that time. The town staff is professional now, too. I'm proud of being part of that change."

Now, it's his golf game that'll be getting some strict attention, which is fitting since it was golf that got him and wife, Mary, to Clayton in the first place. They were visiting their daughter in nearby Raleigh years ago and decided to come to Clayton for a round of golf. "We fell in love with the place," he said.

Though he built his reputation on helping turn a financially-challenged little village into one of the most fiscally solid and growing town's in the country, Ahlert said he feels his best work was on the steering committee that recommended turning two old downtown schools into what is now the town's brightest jewel--the Clayton Center.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Town Council, and, hopefully, what I did on the Council has made a difference for the people of Clayton," he said, " but if there's one thing I'd like to be remembered for, it's the Clayton Center. I remember walking through those buildings once a day during construction, thinking we had made a good decision. I think we did the town proud with that."

The former Councilman said he feels the town is in good hands with the present Council and town staff and doesn't need any help from him, "but if I had any advice to give," Ahlert says, "it would be to continue to do the right thing for the town, even though sometimes that will make you unpopular."