Mayor Wilfred Rosas

Upon taking office in early January, U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy reached out by phone to Wilfred Rosas in an attempt to build a relationship with the Dunkirk mayor. It was during that call Langworthy learned the powerful county Democrat would likely not be around for a long time.

“He was a total gentleman,” Langworthy said of his interaction. “I think it’s kind of a loss to have someone exit the stage so quickly.”

Dunkirk council Republicans, however, do not share those same sentiments. For more than three years, the faction has been browbeating the mayor by taking away small, but important items. Those members would not let his department heads receive minimal raises.

They slashed his travel expenses. They even — through promoting a hostile work environment — chased out two of his previous and highly respected development directors.

In a sense, the bullying worked. Rosas, who has given so much of his time to important city matters, decided this month he had enough. He would not be seeking a third term.

“While I have enjoyed my time as mayor, my family has suffered; and my family is my number one priority,” the mayor said in deciding not to seek re-election.

Whoever steps in — whether it be Democratic candidate Kate Wdowiasz or whoever the Republicans choose — there is no question the community will lose some hard-earned clout. Filling his shoes is a tall order for anyone.

Rosas cemented his legacy when the city was awarded $10 million in January through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Those funds were a gift to Dunkirk — and cultivated by the Rosas travels to Albany, Buffalo and sometimes New York City that helped build relationships while putting the municipality on the map for those who would have only heard of it through a 2017 movie by the same name.

Those same travel expenses of the mayor were jealously and maliciously cut for the last three years by the council due to what they considered “overspending.” Residents, we hope, would know better than to believe that. Those costs totaled — maybe — $10,000 per year. In a $26 million spending plan, those are ice chips in a glacier-sized budget.

By the way, that $10 million was an excellent return on an investment that was more time than travel dollars. Those same elected officials, who worked so hard over the last three years to take down a respected mayor, have done little to nothing to better the city.

Look around, there’s a lot that needs improving — especially around an often desolate block of City Hall. That money earmarked for downtown can help drive additional investment around the Lake Erie waters, possibly from outsiders.

It won’t be an easy sell. Dunkirk often is its own worst enemy.

This council’s relationship with the mayor is an exact example of that.