We've all heard the phrase "Success begets success." In the instance of Dickinson, providing an opportunity to build some self confidence through success has been a key to the positive growth that's occurred.
Mayor Dennis Johnson, who this week announced his intention to seek a third term, has felt for a long time that the people of Dickinson didn't lack talent.
"We have lots of talent here. If they were lacking in anything at one time, it might have been in self confidence," he said during his announcement interview this past week.
"There's been a lot of success in this community. This community has learned we're capable of doing some pretty big things, meeting some pretty big challenges," Johnson added.
Just the fact that Dickinson survived the oil boom of the 70s and the oil bust of the 80s says a lot for the community's residents.
ADVERTISEMENT
"This community is going to do quite well. It turned the corner there sometime in the early or mid-90s and we're moving forward," Johnson said. "Now certainly with the oil prices the way they are and the agriculture commodity prices the way they are, the movement forward has been greatly accelerated."
Johnson also continues to believe it's fair to say that Dickinson, when compared to other communities in the state, is one of the most entrepreneurial.
"Think about what we have to do to grow our economy. We don't have the advantages that the other major cities have," he said. "We don't have a major research university, we don't have an Air Force base, we're not the seat of state government. We pretty much have to do this in very much an entrepreneurial way."
Johnson also recognizes Dickinson is blessed with a great location.
"The southwest, of course the national park, I think is the most beautiful part of our state. We're blessed with the natural resources of oil and coal and natural gas and access to the southwest pipeline," he said.
Johnson said Dickinson is blessed with things that many mayors or city governments would appreciate and want to have. We as residents, also have been blessed during the past eight years with a city commission that has promoted openness, a willingness to listen and a desire to help Dickinson be the best it can be, now and well into the future.
