Utica mayor not looking for recognition
Julian focuses on revitalizing the city

By TRACI GREGORY
Observer-Dispatch

UTICA — Being recognized as an Accent on Excellence honoree came as a surprise to Tim Julian.

In his position as mayor of Utica, Julian more often hears criticism than praise. So being recognized for his efforts was sweet music.

“It shows that the person who nominated me and the committee who judges feels I’ve worked hard to better the area,” he said.

In his nomination letter, Frederick J. Arcuri said Julian’s efforts have made Utica a better place to live.

“As a young and energetic man, Mayor Julian has brought to fruition many projects to revitalize the city he loves,” the letter read.

But Julian is clear that he didn’t enter politics for recognition. He does it so he can make a difference in the community in which he grew up.

“I saw Utica in my early years as a place that was terrific,” he said. And then he saw it change.

“Utica became run down, dirty,” he said. “It lost respect and standing with other communities.”

He feels he has brought not only a non-self-serving attitude to the office of mayor, but also common sense efforts to turn things around.

But he agrees that his efforts and his stances on some issues have polarized the public.

“People are just about split on me,” he said. But he won’t change the way he conducts business as mayor.

“You need someone who’s willing to stand up and say, ‘Good or bad, that’s me,’” he said.

Some efforts he’s most proud of include the improvements to the city’s bond ratings, which has enabled the city to make infrastructure improvements. In turn, that work has further improved the bond rating, Julian said.

“It’s a circle and it keeps coming around and it’s elevating every time it comes around,” he said.

Other highlights include the downtown Utica National Insurance Group project.

“I think it’s a symbol of the growth downtown has experienced,” Julian said.

Outside of the mayor’s office, Julian likes to stay on the go — biking, running, skiing or teaching his two sons how to hit a baseball in the back yard.

He has volunteered his talents as a roofer to Habitat for Humanity and finds himself at his father’s laundromat about once a week fixing things.

All these activities help to balance out the stress that comes with being mayor.

“This is a job that will quickly consume you if you allow it to,” he said.

But even with the stress, the criticism and any other negative aspect of the job, it’s still worth it, Julian said.

“You do it for the thought that you can make things better.”