DIXON – Dixon will be defined by its beauty, history, culture and quality of life, not by the Rita Crundwell episode, Mayor Jim Burke said Wednesday in his annual state of the city address.

The city will look forward, not back, in 2013, he said in the written address, noting highlights of a year he called bittersweet.

“The Rita Crundwell embezzlement, not surprisingly, dominated city government for most of the year,” Burke said. “All major media led into their stories about Dixon as being the hometown of Ronald Reagan. I am confident that after the embezzlement becomes old news that Dixon will continue to be known for the Reagan connection and the many other attributes that make up our community.”