The old cliche says, “the new boss, same as the old boss.” But, for the village of South Point, that might just be a good thing.

Veteran village councilman Ron West took over as mayor recently after Bob Armstrong passed away earlier this month. Armstrong himself was appointed to replace long-time mayor William Gaskin, who served the village in that capacity for more than two and a half decades.

West, having served the village for more than 10 years, will likely fill the role perfectly because he worked closely with both men he is following and shared in many respects a similar vision for the village.

Having a long-time public servant like West in that top spot is a perfect fit for the village and also for this week’s “Good News, Good Neighbors” showcase.

The village of South Point has made great strides in recent years under the leadership of Gaskin and Armstrong. West is smart enough to know that he doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel.

His goal will be to continue the progress that has been made and keep the village moving forward.

Consistency and a clear vision is important when it comes to leadership, whether that is in government, in business or in the community.

West will bring that consistency because he has been on the council and worked closely with his predecessors. South Point residents shouldn’t see a drop off in terms of services and the direction that the village is headed.

Hopefully, West will take advantage of this opportunity to build on the successes of the past and also establish his own identity and direction for the village.

West has big shoes to fill but he understands that the best way to approach that is not to try to fill them at all but simply follow the footprints in the same general direction.