icenetwork.com

Olympian Wayne Seybold is now the Mayor of Marion, Ind. (courtesy Mitch Harper)

By Jocelyn Jane Cox, special to icenetwork.com

(09/04/2008) - Wayne Seybold, who captured the pairs silver medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships twice, and also competed at the 1988 Olympics with his sister Natalie, is now the mayor of his hometown of Marion, Ind. He's one year into his second term, fresh off a political trip to Russia and currently serving as a delegate at the Republican National Convention.

The Seybolds started skating on roller skates in Indiana in the early 1970s. They gradually transitioned to figure skating and eventually moved to Delaware to train under Ron Ludington. Seybold credits Ludington and other coaches with not only helping him to become a world-class athlete but also instilling leadership skills.

"When Kitty and Peter Carruthers left Delaware to start their professional careers, we, along with Gillian Wachsman and Todd Waggoner, were the top skaters in the rink. Luddy encouraged us to help the other skaters, whether it was making sure they get to the rink on time or motivating them on the ice."

After the 1988 Olympics, the Seybolds performed professionally for several years, and Wayne became involved in the production side of ice shows, settling at that time in Los Angeles. He went on to produce and co-produce shows all over the United States and around the world.

Because he decided he didn't want to raise kids in L.A., he moved back to Marion. He has three boys with wife Jennifer, ages 5, 3, and 6 months.

While he and his sister were competing, the community raised a significant amount of money in order to assist them financially. "When I got back to Marion, I wanted to give back. I went into the mayor's office and asked him what I could do."

He first sat on four different boards then ran for city council, taking office in 2000. He noticed, while in this position, that he didn't like the way the new mayor was running things. "I figured I could do at least as good a job as him, if not better."

In 2003, he decided to put his name on the ballot for mayor. This is also when he decided to Rollerblade every street in Marion, an endeavor that added up to over 250 miles. He wanted to see for himself the condition of every street and sidewalk. In total, he "skated" past every person's house in Marion. Eventually, they started advertising what neighborhoods he was going to be in, and people would wait out on their porches to see him.

"I'd skate right up to their houses and ask them what their issues were."

Only 12 weeks after he took office, the city was rocked by the news that one of their largest employers was closing its doors, resulting in the loss of over 3,500 jobs. Seybold was immediately thrust into the spotlight, but he was comfortable with the media thanks to his Olympic experience. "I was new to the job and mobbed with cameras. I said, 'If that company doesn't respect the workers of Marion, then I'll go out and find some companies who think our employees are good enough!'"

Since then, Seybold has been determined to make Marion one of the leading small cities of the 21st century. For example, nine months after taking office, he took the whole city wireless. He has helped to create over 2,500 new jobs and bring in millions of dollars of revenue, attracting new development and new companies, including new businesses in the technology sector. His recent trip to Russia and prior trips to Japan, China, and states around the U.S., are all part of an attempt to encourage "on-shoring" as opposed to off-shoring.

"I'm not a typical mayor who sits in his office all day. I get out and sell the city. Being on tour all those years made traveling seem like no big deal. I have no problem jumping on a plane and flying to, say, San Francisco, just for the day. And I have no problem speaking with foreign dignitaries."

But Seybold notes that skating has set him up for his current career in many ways. He relies heavily on his experience as a show producer. "Instead of directors, choreographers, costumers and set directors, I have a Parks Department, a Streets Department and 14 department heads. Even though I have a much bigger budget now, I can use a lot of the same formulas."

He also jokes that the nine City Council members are kind of like skating judges, and that, just like in skating, there are a lot of rumors. Likewise, skaters, like politicians, are accustomed to having their fates largely in the hands of others. Besides, mayoral terms last four years, the same length of time between the Olympic Games.

"There's quite a bit of work to get done in that period of time. I've hired a lot of people who are smarter than myself in order to move the city forward. I've told them that I know mistakes will be made. As a skater, I fell every day and had to get back up again. It's not about the mistake, but what are you going to do from there and how do you keep going?"

As far as his current involvement in skating, Seybold is the president of a company called Ice Rinks 2 Go, Inc., which rents out portable ice rinks for performances, public skating and holiday parties. Hotels, municipalities and malls are among his clients.

When asked about his future in politics, he says he's interested in whatever opportunities might arise. For now, he's enjoying being the best mayor he can be. He is honored to have been voted one of three delegates representing Indiana's 5th Congressional District at the Convention this week. He's excited to be attending meetings and to be on the floor for all of the speeches.

"For me," he says, "this is another great life experience."