No one asked me, but if I was a Wichita city council member, I’d be pushing to take the “interim” off Scott Moore’s city manager office door as soon as humanely possible.
Hard as this may be for some to swallow, there’s a place in Wichita city government for a nice guy, for a calm, understated man whose management style elicited affection I’ve never seen in government before from city officials and residents in Ellsworth, Scott’s last stop.
And I’m here to tell you that Wichita doesn’t necessarily need a back-room arm-twister to lure, retain and grow business. Economic development can and should be a team approach, and Scott will have a lot of good foot soldiers to join him in the fight.
What would it hurt to turn city administration over to a consensus builder that John Q. Businessman could walk in and talk to? I don’t see how that would build anything but trust between City Hall and the Wichita business community, let alone the community at large. Is there something in the city policy manual that requires the General Sherman-on-the-way-to-Atlanta management style? I think not.
The council and the search committee have noted – and no doubt will again – the resume differences between Scott and other applicants.
But having watched Scott Moore from afar for more than eight years, I’d issue a caution to all of them: Your best choice might well be right under your noses.
7 Comments
I was feeling pretty good about Moore myself… until I saw this.
I, for one, am sick and tired of the two-year-old attitude the “business community” takes. Everything has to be all about them. What about the real people of Wichita?
I think Mr. Moore can do a good job… but I think we would all feel better if Gary Rebenstorf, Cathy Holderman and a few others were no longer there.
Moore is fair to employees. So much so that I am surprised that the business community also likes him. He’s been running all the operations of the city for three years. That’s a lot of employees and employee groups.
And fair dealing from Scott. He will support an employee over management if he feels the employee is right.
And what is this about him uncovering an $800,000.00 extortion ring in Ellsworth?
Just went I thought there was a good blog for a change, the leftist over at the WE Blog are now starting to migrate and put there two cents over here. *sigh* I guess it’s just the way it is. It’s life!
Beside that. I always thought it would be the best decision for the City Council to promote from within, even before they found Kolb. Should people like Scott Moore remain an assistant for the rest of his life, because only (City Managers) from other cities is the best possible fit?
Promote him!
It’s funny how it’s the “leftist” who opposes Communism but the “rightists” like “ictBest” who support Communism. Referring, of course, to all this government money going into private business ventures.
As for Moore – I think he is a great choice and have said so. I have wondered why the City has seemed so intent on bringing in a hired gun from elsewhere who has no vested interest in our city. Moore seems very level-headed and can also readily seek advice from Flentje whenever he needs to.
BTH: Good comment about the paradox of someone like “ictBest” claiming to be a “rightist” even though in reality, he shows strong affinity for the communist side. Too bad we don’t know his real identity so we could explain to him the errors in his thinking.
Joe! Is that you?