The Mayor by Tiffany Occhiogrosso

Nacogdoches Mayor Roger Van Horn showed a humorous side during an interview on Tuesday. While describing his jobs, both mayor and dentist, he added insights into his life.
This is Van Horn’s second term as mayor. His first term he ran unopposed, and claimed he had potential during that election, but he didn’t know how to be mayor. “But I’m getting better at it,” he said with a grin on his face.
One of Van Horn’s frustrations is the strong-manager city commission government of Nacogdoches, which limits his power. His vote is the same as the other four commissioners on the city commission. It is the job of the city manager to run the city on a daily basis.
But Van Horn kept his humor about him. Describing the coming commission meeting while laughing, Van Horn said, “Don’t come tonight – it’s going to be a bore.”
Van Horn serves his civic duty by being mayor. He compared being a mayor to being a dentist: being mayor, “People aren’t afraid of you.” Another contrast is the pace – as he leaned forward to slap the podium in front of him, “In the city you never get anything done. It’s so hard to get closure.”
Yet Van Horn still has faith in the process. His hope is that people will trust the process, because politicians really are serving the best interest of their constituents.
Van Horn became a dentist by mere chance: his college roommate was interviewing for a dentist job, and Van horn decided to interview as well. Today he has a private practice in town.
Van Horn came to live in Nacogdoches by much the same means: chance. In the 1970s while he and his wife were looking for a place to live between Kansas City and Houston their car broke down in Nacogdoches. After being warmly welcome by friendly residents, they decided to move here.
Van Horn hopes to commit five terms as mayor of Nacogdoches, “If they’ll have me.”