THAT LOUD NOISE Wednesday night was the Emporia City Commission slamming the door on public involvement in the hiring of a new city manager.
Mayor Jim Kessler cited the candidates’ privacy as a reason for not making their names public or bringing them before an open forum for questioning by the public. The candidates have other jobs, Kessler said, and a public announcement that they were seeking the Emporia job might cause them problems.
That explanation does not wash.
For a public job at this level — the city manager is the chief executive officer of the city and the pay is likely to be well above $100,000 a year — serious candidates must expect some public scrutiny. That scrutiny is a logical part of the process and should have been taken into account by all the candidates before they applied for the job.
The search for a new president of Emporia State University was conducted by a committee that included members of the public, educators and state officials. The five finalists were brought to Emporia and introduced to the community. By the time a president was chosen, anyone who cared to had been given the opportunity to get to know all five of the final candidates.
The ESU process worked just fine and resulted in a quick hiring that received wide public approval.
The policy of secrecy chosen by the city commission is not likely to get anywhere near that broad approval. Secrecy breeds suspicion and suspicion breeds controversy. With a city commission election coming up, the commission’s handling of the manager search is likely to become an important — and legitimate — campaign issue.
It is time for the city commission to open the door.
Failing that, The Gazette will do its best to pry the door open.
Anyone who knows the name of the final five candidates and who also thinks that the city commission is wrong to hide those names is welcome to give that information, anonymously if need be, to any Gazette reporter or editor. The Gazette will verify the information and publish the list.
The Gazette’s newsroom phone number if 342-4805. The e-mail address is newsroom@emporiagazette.com. The fax number is 342-8108.
Phil_Dillon (anonymous) says...
Getting the information is going to be a real longshot.
The situation reminds me of a great film, Sounder, I saw years ago. In one scene a group of black sharecroppers consisting of three generations is passing by an all white church on Sunday morning. One of the young children asks his grandfather, "Grandfather, what do folks do in there?" "I don't rightly know," the grandfather responds.
"Have you ever asked the Lord about what goes on in there?"
"I have indeed."
"What did the Lord say?"
"Well, child, He told me that if I found a way to get in to let Him know cuz He'd been trying to get in there for 150 years Himself."
February 8, 2007 at 5:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tenor73 (anonymous) says...
I am unclear about the authority that allows a public entity to operate in secrecy. Such secrecy is anathema to the democratic process. There must be a compelling interest for the public good to conduct public business in private.
Hal Lewis
February 8, 2007 at 9:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4_Emporia (anonymous) says...
This is an appointed position. You have already elected officals to over see this area. Also, if you had applied for a job and if your current employer would be upset about it. I think that it is fair that a non-elected person is not subject to public scrunity. This is the democratic process you elect someone who has the authority to appoint certain postitions.
February 9, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4_Emporia (anonymous) says...
Phil Dillon I was going to vote for you but you have just committed political sucide. You used ignorance on the current goverment process, used religion to compare what is happening here, and what that great film a comedy. One more thing why would cite something from a time has nothing thing to do with the present situtation??????????? If you trying to be cute, nice try.
February 9, 2007 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
i_am_the_batman (anonymous) says...
I thought Phil's comment was great. Lighten up Slick and lay off the question mark key. The Batman has spoken.
February 9, 2007 at 2 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Sanford (anonymous) says...
4_Emporia, I have one word for you: PROOFREAD! Did hooked on phonics not work for you? If you are going to criticize someone else for being ignorant, please learn to spell first.
February 9, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pizza (anonymous) says...
You guys at the Gazette can just whine for days when you do not get your way.
Hint: Check the KVOE website
February 9, 2007 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
i_am_the_batman (anonymous) says...
@ pizza ... good one. The Batman has spoken.
February 10, 2007 at 7:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4_Emporia (anonymous) says...
Oh just GROW UP! I thought this was a place to post you opinion not assault someone's writing. Beside you don't need to have perfect grammar to make a point. If you have never made a mistake then you should run for commisioner so that we will all be better off with your great mind in charge. Phonics is for sounding out word not writing them JACK A**! ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? DID MAKE MY POINT! NOW STAY OFF THE SITE UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE SUBJECT. YOU STUPID HICKS!! There I have spoken so SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE BATMAN!!!!
February 12, 2007 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )