Patronage Sioux City-Style!
Patronage Sioux City-Style!
Am I alone in feeling that Sioux City suddenly got a little bit smaller, and a whole lot more incestuous?
In a brazen show of chutzpah, the City Manager selected, and the three longest-serving city councilmen approved, former councilmember Marty Dougherty for the post of Economic Development Director. Now, a $70,000 a year job is certainly nothing to sneeze at, and one would expect at the very least that the successful applicant possessed qualifications beyond the oft-cited assertions that Mr. Dougherty served well on council, has lived in Sioux City for many years, and is “a really swell guy.” Perhaps he also had a successful career in the private sector once, although any mention of that has been conspicuously absent. But was there really nobody available with actual, practical experience in the field of economic development? C’mon, with such low expectations even I could qualify for a city job!
But seriously, Tammany Hall would be proud. Hiring your former boss within months of his leaving office, the man who helped set your working conditions and approved your pay increases, well, the sheer audacity of such a move nearly takes my breath away. But I guess by now I should be getting used to small-town politics in Sioux City.
The weirdest part of this hire-your-friend scenario for me, however, is the fact that it’s causing me to gain a newfound appreciation for Brent Hoffman. Along with Jim Rixner, Mr. Hoffman alone has stood up for principle and loudly decried the appearance of impropriety so obviously occasioned by Dougherty’s hire. And while Mr. Hoffman’s impending “2 year no hire” rule for former council members will probably be ridiculed by Sioux City’s imperious “Gang of Three” (Ferris, Berenstein and Geary), at least I have to credit Hoffman for trying to restore a measure of transparency and honesty to council proceedings. At least Hoffman and Rixner aren’t joining their colleagues in trying to insult our collective intelligence.
Perhaps it’s really all moot in the end. Why should we fear a recurrence of patronage Sioux City-style? Unless I’m mistaken, today's city council members can all boast successful careers beyond council service to which they can return some day.
Peace!
Historian
3 Comments:
Oddly enough, I have had a positive experience with Mr. Hoffman too. I had a complaint and took it to the City Council. Mr. Hoffman contacted me twice about the issue, and the complaint was dealt with quickly. Sadly, Mr. Rixner never did contact me... I had expected the reverse.
Mr. Hoffman is to be congratulated for doing some very smart things, but kkep in mind that he really doesn't have another job. Hofman is able to spend most of his time and energy on city council issues, and responding to emails.
On the other hand, Mr. Rixner is the executive director of Siouxland Mental Health, which by itself is a VERY demanding position.
True dat.
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