Now it’s time to see what Tom Henry can really do.

As with many first-term mayors, much of Henry’s first four years in office was devoted to following through with projects and issues already in play the day he took office.

Unlike many first-termers, he inherited some projects that were massive: Consider Harrison Square and the federally mandated sewer project.

But on Jan. 1, Henry will rightfully claim ownership of the issues before him, notably the Legacy Fund financed by the lease and sale of City Light to I&M. (See editorial at left.)

Even issues he inherited – such as what to do with the River North property formerly occupied by OmniSource – belong fully to Henry and are not simply follow-up to Graham Richard’s initiatives.

While the Legacy Fund and River North are likely to be leading priorities in his second term, Henry will also have to place much emphasis on the basics of delivering city services at a time when tax revenues are declining.

But with his team in place and Henry now quite familiar with the job, the mayor’s three immediate predecessors – Richard, Paul Helmke and Win Moses – agree on one thing.

In Moses’ words, “the second term is easier.”

More confidence

“People have confidence in your abilities,” Moses said.

Helmke acknowledges that his 1987 victory was largely a vote against the incumbent, Moses. Likewise, much of Henry’s 2007 victory was a protest against the Republican candidate.

“Oftentimes, in the first term, you’re looked at a little skeptically by all the players,” Helmke said. “When it’s a second term, people voted for you. So you start the second term with a little more credibility and a lot more political capital.”

No matter how knowledgeable a new mayor is about city government, there is a certain amount of on-the-job training that isn’t needed for the second term.

“There really is no perfect job training for” the mayor, noted Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at IPFW. For the first year or two, “most mayors are spending time literally getting the feel for the job.”

More determination

Helmke’s three consecutive terms were a rarity for a Fort Wayne mayor. The city has seen several one-term mayors in the last century, and few have seen more than two terms. So in a second term, even if the mayor is contemplating a third term, “you look hard at getting your projects finished,” Helmke said.

With the voter confidence they’ve earned through two elections and their track records, second-term mayors have a greater political capability for taking on controversial projects.

Richard was much better prepared to gain approval of the intensely controversial Harrison Square in his second term. With more than eight years under his belt, Helmke was able to get the much-maligned Aboite Township annexation through the council and help forestall legislative efforts to reverse it.

“It’s time to focus and be bold,” Richard said. “Take three or four or five initiatives and really go at them hard and fast.”

The issues

One of those initiatives is likely to be the River North property, northwest of Clinton and Fourth streets. City officials have looked at the privately owned former site of an OmniSource auto-recycling operation for years.

Henry is not proposing the city develop the land. But he does want the city either to own or control it, partly because he’s concerned about its zoning designation of industrial, which he believes is inappropriate.

“By controlling it, we can control the development,” Henry said.

Richard, who also wanted to see the land developed, points out its proximity to Science Central and Lawton Park as well as to Headwaters Park and downtown.

Development on other riverside property throughout downtown is also a possibility in the coming four years. Henry said he instructed staff to find out who owns what land along the rivers,

Henry will still have no small amount of follow-through during his second term.

The much-anticipated merger of the city and county emergency dispatch operations is not without problems. City police will be moving to the former City-County Building early in Henry’s second term. The city and county will soon undertake a project to make it easier for developers and businesses to get government permits.

Henry also wants a plan to remove and replace the city’s dying ash trees. “We need to address this as aggressively as we can,” the mayor said, though it probably won’t happen in a single phase.

Then there are the basics of the mayor’s job – making sure vital city services are provided well, thoroughly and efficiently.

That will continue to become more difficult in coming years because of the state tax cap.

Higher profile

A second term raises a mayor’s profile. A second-term mayor becomes better known throughout the state and, sometimes, beyond. Both Helmke and Richard became involved with national organizations that advocate for cities, and after developing reputations for innovation and success, had opportunities to be national spokesmen.

Such exposure can help the political careers of multi-term mayors. It can also bring positive attention to Fort Wayne, something, as Helmke said, “that always helps the city.”