Statue in the Park

A post just came up on Facebook that said: "Sandy White voted NO to placing a donated statue of Ron McIntire, a former mayor and leading citizen, in McIntire Family Park, but she showed up at the unveiling ceremony on August 9th." I've decided to address it here because it is misleading information and a typical straw-man argument.

On June 10, the City of Hayden received a proposal for a statue in McIntire Park. There’s a lot more background to this project, but to keep it simple I’m sharing a clip from the meeting that starts at about the 14 minute mark, along with the notes from my remarks for your reference. https://www.youtube.com/live/UjIM_GFBHB4?feature=shared&t=830

I'd like to point out that the planning was reportedly going on for two years. I made it clear in the council meeting that my decision not to accept the unseen artwork was never about former Mayor Ron McIntire himself nor the world renound artist Terry Lee. I have deep respect for them and the many ways they have served our community. My concern was about setting a precedent regarding accepting surprise donations of artwork and placing them in the park without review in the future.

This is the prepared statement that I read from:

"First, I want to thank Mrs. Saterfiel for her dedication. Two years of work on this statue is a meaningful effort, and I respect both the artist and the person being honored as well.

That said, as a council member, I have a duty to uphold our public processes. Permanent installations on city property—especially in public parks—should go through a transparent approval process well in advance. Instead, this project was reportedly developed over a span of two years, outside support was organized, and invitations to the unveiling were being sent mid May before any formal review by the Hayden City Council or even the Arts Commission.

In contrast, when McIntire Family Park was dedicated to former Mayor Ron McIntire in 2016, it was done publicly during Hayden Days, with full council approval. This statue, however, was planned privately and, if accepted, will reportedly be unveiled at a closed event—despite being permanently placed in a public space.

Up until tonight I haven’t even seen the art. Accepting it now sets a troubling precedent: it bypasses public input, creates an appearance of favoritism, and could open the door to future proposals without proper vetting.

On principle, I must vote no. This is not a reflection on the art, the artist, or the person being honored, but a stand for transparency, fairness, and public accountability. Thank you"

The meeting vote ended 3–1 in favor of the statue. And even though I voted no, I chose to attend the unveiling because it was important to me to pay my respects to Mr. McIntire. I’m not a sore loser. On the contrary, I’m truly thankful for the way Mr. McIntire has served our community through his store, especially during the pandemic when he kept it open for everyone’s needs. My attendance wasn’t about politics; it was about honoring the McIntire family.

I’ll be honest and say it’s not easy to be a kind person in the middle of an election season full of mudslinging. But my faith calls me to a higher standard. I refuse to answer unkindness with more unkindness. Instead, I pray for those who speak harshly against me, trusting that God can work in every heart to bring healing, peace, and wisdom. Kindness is not weakness; it’s the strength God provides. And with His help, I will continue to serve Hayden with integrity, grace, and compassion.

Thank you for allowing me the chance to share my perspective.

Sandy White

sandy4hayden@gmail.com