This is my the first time missing a Fishers State of the City address delivered by Mayor Scott Fadness.  I think I had an excuse, in a local hospital room with an IV in my arm.

The mayor’s staff did provide me with the text of his speech.  I always look to what the mayor chooses to highlight in the speech as a way of gauging his view of where Fishers has been, is now and appears to be headed in the future.

The speech opened with thoughts on an international flight (parents with boys his age get little quiet time at home).  He recalled what it was like in the early stages of the pandemic.

He then brought up to the stage his department heads and staff, providing the audience with a rundown of how each had contributed to the city getting through the COVID period as well as could be expected under the circumstances.

As the mayor looked to the future, he cited the constant bombardment of negative messages about government and how that has created a skeptical view of Fishers, since the constant bickering is common on the national level.  In the view of Fadness, all that national noise makes it difficult to take the pulse of the local community accurately.

He then pivoted to the many accomplishments the city has seen recently, including weathering the COVID economic storm, along with a long list of projects the city is undertaking.

Mayor Fadness makes an appeal at the end of the speech, challenging us to find our common ground, our agreement on some basics.  He recognizes the differences we have, but asks that we overcome those differences by striving to exercise three qualities:  grace, curiosity and a sense of humor.

Fadness looks to the next 24-36 months, saying the city will see a “remarkable transformation.”  So, just where were you on that international travel Mr. Mayor?  Going for another economic development project?  After all, the city just lured an Italian firm here.

This speech looked back at the painful start of the COVID pandemic, how Fishers dealt with that situation, then looked forward to how we might come together as a community on some common ground we all share.

Mayor Scott Fadness laid down a challenge for all of us.  Can we come together and reach some common ground in this era of hyper-partisanship?  The answer resides in all of us, the citizens of Fishers.  Time will tell.