Rochester Mayor Ted Denton: Getting Down To Business
Ted Denton is Rochester’s new mayor, its chief executive, its municipal head honcho.
But you can call him “Ted.”
In fact, he insists on it.
“It’s just Ted, not Mr. Mayor,” said the 64-year old Rochester native. “Nothing has changed except that I have a new assignment.”
Elected in November to his first term at the city’s helm, Denton brings to the position a vision for economic development, decades of marketing and management experience and an apt balance of drive and humility.
“Typically the mayor’s job of a town this size has been geared toward managing local departments and went no further than that,” he said.
“I am a believer we need to not only expect but require more of our administrators.
“Economics is what it is all about in this day and age. We are all out after the same economic pie,” said Denton, “and competition is keen.”
He believes his 35 years in middle and top management primed him for public service. “That is the difference I bring to the mayor’s office. I come from an environment if you are not out there making things happen, you do not survive.”
He views the mayor’s job through the prism of “a marketing philosophy,” and mere days after taking office, he leveled his crosshairs on Warsaw.
“We’re sitting this close to the orthopedic capital of the world and we’re not getting any of that industry spilled on us,” he reasoned. “We have to make contacts and let people know we are here. We can be the antacid to their headache.”
But, he said, “until you go out and ask them what is the cause of their headache you may be working on the wrong things.”
In his quest to transform Rochester from a bedroom community to a junior partner in the industrial and business world, Denton readily acknowledged he will not be doing the task alone.
He will work closely with the local economic development corporation and chamber of commerce “to move the community in a forward direction when it comes to economics.” Together they will aim for the “development and redevelopment of downtown and the preparation of the people” of Rochester.
He also intends to delegate work to maximize the city administration’s effectiveness.
“The wisest thing I can do is to surround myself with good people,” he said. Paraphrasing Warren Buffett, Denton added he would “recognize good, smart people and recognize when to stay out of their way.”
One thing Denton will not bring into his office is divisive political partisanship.
“I’m taking the approach not to replace anyone right away,” he said. “I’m in the research, review and respond mode.
“I told all my department heads, ‘I need to hear from you if this is something you can do.
“If you tell me you can, I will give you an opportunity. All you folks come into this situation with a good deal of knowledge.’
“Political replacement has nothing to do with what is good for the city.
“I need to bring people in under the right tent in the right environment and not cut anyone off at the knees because of partisanship. It creates an opportunity for growth when you push all those things out of the picture.”
The mayor’s office is located at 320 Main St. The phone number is (574) 223-4555.