Public service pro

The Gazette Editorial Board

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It's hard to imagine City Hall without Iowa City Assistant City Manager Dale Helling.

For more than 30 years Helling was a fixture in city offices. His retirement marked the end of a remarkable run of steady, competent leadership.

Helling started with the city as a police officer in 1975. In 1978, he applied for the assistant city manager job. He quickly mastered his new duties, notably facilitating the smooth contract negotiations between the city and labor unions that we take for granted today.

And when Helling three times stepped as interim city manager - including a year and a half stint in 2009 and 2010 - there was no doubt the city was in competent hands.

Some admirers even tried talking him into applying for the top job, but Helling declined, saying he was too close to retirement.

When he did retire last week, City Manager Tom Markus promptly renamed the City Hall lobby conference room in Helling's honor.

That's a fitting tribute to Helling's long tenure of unflagging professionalism and public service.

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