Manager panel makeup raises questions

The 16 appointments so far to the citizen committee helping search for a new city manager say a lot about the Wichita City Council’s priorities — a predominance of real estate and business professionals, with a few nods to diversity and neighborhoods. To be sure, these people know Wichita well and will bring distinct perspectives to the search. But many have agendas, too. And there’s a good case to be made that members Ben Sciortino and Greg Ferris do not belong on such a panel, because their work has involved lobbying the City Council.

9 Comments

  1. JWink
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 5:36 am | Permalink

    Looks like once again Wichita’s “good old boy network” trying to control the public purse strings and direction of local government.

  2. A. Greenspan
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 6:28 am | Permalink

    … and why 16? Are we gonna have to pay for a lot of trips for these guys?

    I think 6-10 could do the trick — lets see

    A lawyer and an academic in the Law area. A banker and an academic in the Business / financial area, a chancellor from a local Univ., a senior labor rep with an academic in the field, a senior education rep, 2 theologians. 2 Public Safety Officials. hmm — 12 total.

    In lieu of appointing academics / or vice versa the nominees in specific areas should be asked to consult with academics etc … in the fields. 9 Total —

    Seems a much more manageable size group — if when needed the committee members can have meetings with people in the fields.. ..

  3. Tony
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 6:31 am | Permalink

    That makes way too much since Greenspan. Our city could never do anything that logical.

  4. Dennis
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 8:40 am | Permalink

    Hey Greenie, how about a few regular people? Credentials are nice, but the average Joe and Joline are smart enough to have some input.

  5. ?
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 11:43 am | Permalink

    I cannot believe that the racist naacp organization is given credibility and is allowed a seat on that committee. Why isn’t the kkk invited as well? Both organizations exist solely to promote their race and nothing else. Both groups are racist, and neither one deserves any positive coverage, let alone a seat on a committee.

    Shame on whoever invited that racists, separatist group.

  6. mrcontroversy
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 11:44 am | Permalink

    Funny… I sent this letter to the Eagle about 2 AM this morning:

    In a democracy, all sides are supposed to be heard.
    Well, nobody ever accused Wichita of being a democracy, but those of us who believe this city could become a great city by giving everyone a voice had to be disappointed in the choices made for the city manager screening committee.
    Only one set of views are represented by the committee-those who believe everything is hunky-dory in City Hall. The end result? Likely, a city manager who will be nothing more than a yes-man for the narrow clique that runs everything in Wichita.
    Why not seek out those who have felt disenfranchised, who are suspicious and even critcal of city government? Do we not have the right to be heard? Apparently not, according to the City Council.
    A good city can become a great city only when everyone feels included… a full stakeholder in the process.

  7. Ben
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 2:30 pm | Permalink

    MrC – that was one of the primary conclusions of Visioneering. Unfortunately, like much that came out of Visioneering …

  8. WichiWomn
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 3:10 pm | Permalink

    Whatever happened to the Visioneering program, Ben?

  9. JWink
    Posted March 24, 2008 at 9:23 pm | Permalink

    You have to understand, Visioneering groups exist across America in a kind of one world order organization. Led by Floridian, and apparently annointed by God, Henry “Foghorn Voice” Luke arrives in communities like a modern day “Music Man” promising band uniforms, downtown arenas, lots of new jobs and new buildings at local expense of course. Also a host of various window dressing projects to give the whole thing an appearance of reality and truth.

    Afterward, Visioneering grand priest, Henry Luke, returns to the heavens or more accurately flees back to Florida never to be seen again by ordinary Kansans who picked up the tab for his Kansas trip.

    Henry Luke’s main project in Wichita was to get the downtown arena approved without allowing visioneering membership the opportunity to discuss or vote on the project sensing the prevailing opinion was already turned against it.

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