When Donald Kasprzak was a member of the Plattsburgh Common Council in the early '90s, a hallmark of his tenure was his attention to how money was being spent. He and fellow member Mark Dame stirred plenty of angst among labor unions by citing what they saw as abuses of the system or areas in which money could be saved by more prudent management of resources.

As a candidate for mayor in 2006, Kasprzak stressed the need to reign in spending and correct procedures that had led to a budget deficit. He pledged to make the corrections, and the public elected him.

Since taking office in January, 2007, he has made good on his pledge, and, although some of the measures have been painful for the city or, more poignantly, for individuals, they have generally returned the city to a firmer financial footing than the one on which the mayor found it.

His full-time predecessor, Daniel Stewart (Jack Stewart filled out the final year of Daniel's term when Daniel resigned to accept a state appointment), has been revealed not to have had much of a knack as an administrator of the city budget. However, he never lacked a vivacity and a clearly defined vision for the future that could deliver Plattsburgh to the threshold of new opportunities for prosperity.

Dan Stewart could enchant developers and politicians with his charm, humor and enthusiasm. Anyone who knows him can understand how he could accomplish wonders with his strong personality, though he hardly wrote the primer on strict bookkeeping protocol.

Kasprzak is scarcely without charm, as well, though he does not come across as cavalier in comparison with Stewart. Extremely personable, he is more serious in his approach to problems. The city should be grateful for that.

Now, though, we hear more and more criticism that he is so attentive to city finances that he is neglecting the other side of the mayoral equation: that, under his stewardship, the city has lost focus on new development, new opportunities. A city that isn't obsessed with growth will, at best, endure.

The criticism began with his political opponents, which was not surprising. Now, however, that voice is gaining resonance with citizens of no particular political bent.

In Kasprzak's defense, his first order of business was to fix what was wrong before embarking on finding new things that are right. He would say that that job is not yet done. He would also say that he has his eye on the horizon at all times, searching for new ventures.

It appears that a growing number of citizens want the best of Kasprzak and the best of Stewart in the belief that both missions are possible simultaneously.

We agree. What we don't agree with is that Kasprzak is without wiles when it comes to progress, development, new enterprises.

This is not an ideal time in U.S. financial history to impel new development. Nevertheless, we remind the mayor that an anxious constituency is looking hopefully to him to show that this element of the job is very much on his mind.