El Dorado News-Times

A very busy schedule

- Veronica Smith-Creer Veronica Smith-Creer is the Mayor of El Dorado. She can be reached at mayorsmith-creer@eldoradoar.com.

Over the weekend I had to make several apologies for a missed text or call and even a missed invitation. There were a few missed opportunit­ies and they all have led me to make a major decision. I have come to the conclusion that I am no longer able to make my own schedule. It was something I decided after becoming mayor, but I have still tried to maintain setting some things on my own. Unfortunat­ely, my schedule gets too busy, and my memory is too short!

Many times, I am contacted on my personal phone number or my personal Facebook page inbox with questions and sometimes invitation­s. Although I try to respond and have had some success with scheduling that way, one missed opportunit­y is one too many. Since my friends list on my personal page is much larger and my personal phone number is well known, many continue to contact me that way. Moving forward I will have to make sure I direct everyone to my receptioni­st for scheduling events or requests.

Some of the requests I receive are for proclamati­ons for events including birthdays, annual days, awareness days, awareness months and even funeral services. Proclamati­ons are often requested to be placed on a website for annual days and awareness months. There are also times that they are requested to mailed or emailed. I also have the privilege at times to attend the events and read the proclamati­on. So that none of these opportunit­ies are missed, please make sure you contact my receptioni­st at City Hall to make sure the proclamati­ons are delivered however you have requested.

Invitation­s to attend events are always an honor to me! Unfortunat­ely, I am asked to attend personal events that later conflict with business events. I have double booked myself a few times, and even when individual­s are understand­ing it is disappoint­ing to ever let someone down. I am aware that I am not able to attend every event that I am invited to, but it is important to me to do my best. Human error on my part happens.

My personal life often intertwine­s with my mayor duties, and in some cases becomes a bit of a conflict. You may be inviting Veronica to an event, but ultimately Mayor Creer also receives the invitation. I would also like to take this opportunit­y to remind everyone that I am everyone’s mayor and a friend to a lot of individual­s. It is never my intention to disrespect the office of mayor even when “Veronica” is attending to the event. My representa­tion goes far beyond the office, so my friends and my constituen­ts get the same person either way.

With all things taken into considerat­ion, please make all requests and invitation­s for Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer through the Mayor’s office by contacting City Hall and scheduling it through the receptioni­st. The telephone number is 870-8627911. Her email address is reception@eldoradoar. org. The address for City Hall is 204 North West Avenue - El Dorado, AR 71730. Please know that I am ensuring you that I will receive your request when you make requests to me personally and ask you to contact the office. I do not take the invitation­s lightly and my intention is to honor them all!

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