Business leaders, social service organizations, the Tucson City Council and Pima County typically aren't in unanimous agreement on much.
Yet all are sold on the job Tucson City Manager Mike Hein has done in his first year at City Hall.
Hein succeeded James Keene as manager. As much as Keene was described by many as controlling and distant, Hein has proven to be just the opposite.
He is laid-back but engaged, according to community members and politicians who know and work with him. He's a delegator, not a micromanager, and is open and receptive to the public.
They say Hein likes to be a consensus builder, although he isn't afraid to throw his weight around - but is more apt to do so in private.
The biggest issue he has confronted so far has been the lagging Rio Nuevo, the city's Downtown redevelopment district that has shown little progress toward getting the conglomeration of museums, historic restorations, entertainment venues, shops and restaurants promised to voters when they approved the project in 1999.
Hein has breathed life into Rio Nuevo by shaking up the staff, admitting to Rio Nuevo's lack of progress and pushing an extension of the district from 10 years to 40 years - which would add an extra $1 billion to redevelop Downtown. Legislation bumping up the life of the district for an extra three decades just passed the Arizona House and is on the brink of passing the Senate.
Some of his only critics may be city employees whose jobs he has shaken up or eliminated. Councilwoman Carol West said some city employees feel Hein doesn't give them direction.
But mostly he gets good marks.
"There's a lot of promising signs," said Andrea Robson, co-chair of the Pima County Interfaith Council. "From PCIC's perspective, we're quite pleased."
Mike Ebert, a broker for Trident Commercial Real Estate, agreed, calling Hein open and available. "He is good news for Tucson," Ebert said.
It's the little things
Following Keene and his iron-fisted control of City Hall, Hein sought out his own more open and engaged course.
In December, Hein eliminated the security at City Hall that forced visitors to sign in and show ID to security guards. Hein often leaves his office door open for people to simply poke their heads in.
Hein said he and his wife joke about the first time she had to sign in at City Hall and his wife filled out that she was there for "fun." Hein said security guards had no idea what to do.
In addition, he said, during his first week at City Hall he was given a schedule by his staff of daily meetings that basically consumed every minute of his time. He promptly junked it.
"He's the direct opposite of Jim Keene," said Byron Howard, a former council aide who now works in the City Manager's Office.
Rio Nuevo revival
The biggest challenge Hein has confronted has been Rio Nuevo. He pushed out two of the top managers of the projects by eliminating their jobs from the budget, stripped it of its independent-agency status in the city and installed new leadership.
His assessment that the city has "overpromised and under- delivered" where Rio Nuevo was concerned was refreshing to many in the community, after listening to years of city officials regurgitating lines of optimism and accomplishment for the project, while the discontent mushroomed.
Hein said he has been accused of being exceedingly blunt, but noted, "I call it like I see it. That's how I saw it."
Hotel Congress owner Richard Oseran said the Rio Nuevo plan was being implemented in a top-down fashion that "was just dead wrong."
Oseran said one of Hein's biggest moves was replacing Assistant City Manager Karen Thor-eson, who headed the project, which he said resulted in more openness, discussion and trust with the business community. "Trust is critical," Oseran said.
Better relations
Hein, who was previously a deputy administrator with Pima County, came to the city amid hopes city-county relations would improve after decades of mistrust and bureaucratic turf battles. Hein is also a seasoned veteran of Southern Arizona government: He has also been town manager of Marana and worked in Nogales and South Tucson.
He has succeeded in bettering relations, said County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, as they have improved "100 percent or more."
Most of his City Council approves as well.
"All signals are green on him at this point," said Councilwoman Shirley Scott, who applauded Hein's review of the city staffing levels and responsibilities, and his goal to save taxpayers' dollars.
But city staffers may be one of the few groups who aren't thrilled with Hein at the top. West said city staff members feel rudderless and without direction.
"Frankly, he's a deal maker," West said. "I wished he'd spend more time managing the city and city employees."
Howard said Hein has high expectations for employees and doesn't micromanage them. "I don't think he knows the word," Howard said.
Oseran cautioned that it's still early, but said Hein is definitely on the right track so far.
"I'd give him a pretty high grade," said Daniel Patterson, an ecologist with the Center for Biological Diversity who is also a city planning commissioner. "I hope we can keep him here."
Hein said he has no single long-term goal for the city, but if you ask him the question a half dozen times, its clear his financial- sustainability program for the city budget is a main focus.
The premise is to be financially disciplined enough that over the next 10 years the city can achieve all its goals in hiring police and firefighters, spending to improve parks, and upgrading the city's cracking streets.
Mike Hein's report card from Tucsonans
Rio Nuevo
Given much-needed direction.
"He's on the right track with Rio Nuevo and the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) extension because without money things can't happen," said County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry.
City-county relations
Much improved over past, actually work together, some want more.
"Obviously, they've improved," Huckelberry said.
"One thing I'd like to see him embrace more is the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan," said Daniel Patterson, of the Center for Biological Diversity.
Openness and accessibility
Much improved over past administration; Hein can be reached and will listen.
"He is accessible and he doesn't keep himself at the top of the glass tower at City Hall," Patterson said.
"We feel we can develop a good working relationship," said Andrea Robson, co-chair of the Pima County Interfaith Council.
The "model is 180 degrees different from the way things were," said Hotel Congress owner Richard Oseran.
Relationship with business
community
Businesspeople are his staunchest supporters.
"He seems to be a promoter of free enterprise," said commercial real estate broker Mike Ebert.
"Whenever you have openness and transparency, you can have trust," Oseran said.
"The business community likes him," said Councilwoman Carol West..
Management style
Hands-off, gives goals and is not a micromanager. Some criticize this as a lack of direction.
"Here's the direction, here's the vision, here's the assignment and go do it," said Byron Howard in the City Manager's Office.
"He lets them do their job," Marana Town Manager Mike Reuwsaat said of Hein with his staff.
"Some city employees feel like they get no direction," West said.
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