Published: January 12, 2009 12:07 am      

INAUGURATION: Mr. Dyster goes to Washington

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster says he gets choked up when visiting the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. under normal circumstances.

That’s nothing compared to how he’s expecting to feel as he stands in its shadow during President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony Jan. 20.

“I think it’s going to be an overpowering emotion,” he said. “I’m getting goose bumps just talking about it now.”

Dyster and City Administrator Donna Owens will be among what’s expected to be a record-breaking crowd at the National Mall to witness Obama sworn in as the country’s 44th president. Recent attendance predictions ranged as high as between 1.5 and three million people, which if realized would shatter the old record of 1.2 million for Lyndon Johnson’s 1965 inauguration, according to online reports.

“It will be one of the greatest moments in the history of the United States of America and I’m honored to be a part of it,” said Dyster, whose wife Becky will also be making the trip with him.

Dyster said Obama’s rise to the White House and unprecedented election victory parallels that of former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, whom he categorizes as among the greatest men in history. Obama will be sworn in using Lincoln’s Bible and the inaugural luncheon has been designed to honor the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth year.

“I’m a firm believer that desperate times produce the greatest leaders,” said Dyster, who lived in Washington, D.C. for several years but has never attended a Democratic Presidential inauguration.

Besides being a part of history, Dyster’s attendance will allow him to network with national leaders and talk up Niagara Falls.

“We will be reminding people that Niagara Falls is here and why we’re significant to the country,” said Dyster, adding he’s hoping to learn more about the office of urban affairs Obama is planning on setting up at the White House. “That will give every city a direct pipeline to his administration. We’re a poor city and heavily ethnically mixed. In the past that has hurt us, but it may help us now. This is our time to shine.”

Prior to the inauguration, Dyster and Owens will be attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors which runs over four days beginning Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Upon their return, the mayor will be preparing for a local event of significance — his state of the city address scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Conference Center Niagara Falls. Dyster said the speech will detail his outlook on the present and future of the city.

City Council Chairman Chris Robins said he hopes Dyster’s presentation focuses more on what will be done in the upcoming years rather than regurgitate what has happened over the past year. However, he does want the mayor to give status updates on some of his campaign promises such as improving infrastructure and economic development.

“I hope it’s going to be more than just a ‘rah-rah’ speech of what has happened so far,” Robins said. “It’s important to talk about the vision for the future. Now that he has his team together, the expectations are much higher. The honeymoon stage is definitely over.”