The Wichita City Council picked Robert Layton today to be the new city manager. Layton is the current manager in Urbandale, Iowa, and appears to be smart and capable. But in picking Layton, the majority of council members ignored the strong recommendations of top business and labor leaders who supported Sedgwick County Manager Bill Buchanan.
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22 Comments
Perhaps this a break from the GOBN?
I hope so. I still have reservations about a man who managed a suburb, but I like choosing someone other than Buchanan so much, I say let’s get on with it and see how “smart and capable” he is!
I believe some people made comments about how the “GOBN” guaranteed Buchanan the job….so much for that conspiracy theory.
Maybe they thought they could push Layton around even more.
I’m not a Wichita native but hasn’t there always been some sort of feud between the city and county? Perhaps this is why Buchanan was not chosen?
As for me, I don’t know that much about Layton but I’m willing to give him a fair chance. Let’s just hope he doesn’t come here to house hunt and then decide he doesn’t want to move here – like the last guy did.
Mr. C., it seems to me if you look at who voted for whom, it would seem to disprove your thought. But NOTHING will surprise me! Our City Council lost me long ago at the blue roof and can’t ever surprise me again. Disappoint, yes. Surprise, no.
If this man is smart and brings our city new ideas, I hope we’re smart enough to listen.
mom…I don’t know about a feud, but I do know that the county is filing a lawsuit against the city (and other cities) for non payment of jail fees. That was authorized by the county commission, tho, and not instigated by the county manager.
The fact that Fearey joined the majority makes me VERY suspicious.
Maybe Lonny the Brownnose will enlighten us…
Darn I thought we were going to get rid of him… a county employee
Long ago there was a sexual harrasment type of charge against Buchanan – supposedly he blew on the back of the neck of some gal. At the time it seemed like a weak charge to me, and it eventually was found to be without merit. But, still, maybe that history remains a problem for Bill.
I always thought Buchanan seemed very competent. I have always favored keeping him and getting rid of the county commissioners – which could be a nice savings for the local government.
Whatever happend to City/County consolidation? We spend way too much for pretty inadequate local government – seems to me.
I am a brown noser. Mr. Controversy called that right. But I don’t know what happened on this vote. The weirdest I’ve seen in the last ten years I’ve been regularly attending city council meetings.
This morning before council meeting it seemed that Buchanan had a strong majority and only Longwell was holding out for Layton. I can understand the Mayor preferring Buchanan because Brewer has become super aggressive on new initiatives that Buchanan can understand and help achieve. I’m not even sure Brewer is the same person as the one using that name four years ago.
I have new respect for Longwell now. Guess I’ll be brown nosing up to him now. HA. He tells me to calm down.
Moving from a Des Moines suburb to Wichita could be a step up while Florida to Wichita could be depressing for a family. David Warren took immediate and full responsibility for the Blue Roof. The decision was whether to blend in with the shopping center or the residential area. The shopping center got involved and the residents didn’t. Until they saw what color it turned out to be. Swatches and roofs don’t always look the same.
I’ll never forget this statement in the blue roof controversy:
“Painting it would void the warranty.”
I suppose tearing it off and replacing it didn’t have any affect on the warranty. NEVER will the City Council surprise me! They disappoint often, but they’ve accomplished levels of stupidity that can’t ever cause me to be surprised again.
Heh. The blue roof. What folly that was. Ugly folly to boot.
I used to live in the area, and I can’t count the times I drove by 21st & Webb and thought to myself, “self, that is the UGLIEST blue roof we ever saw, right?” “check”
I miss the Papa Murphy’s on that corner. :(
With Peterjohn at County and a new guy as City Manager this will be fun to watch. Maybe if we are lucky we can get some new blood on the City Council.
loner34 – if Buchanan serves at the pleasure of the Commission … and now with THREE new members … might his days be numbered?
“while Florida to Wichita could be depressing for a family”…
Interesting assumption, but not necessarily true. I moved here from Tampa almost 4 years ago and like it. The winters are not my favorite, but it was a positive move. It is all in your attitude, I guess.
Ive always wondered why the County or the city need managers anyways isn’t that why the Council and the Commission are elected and paid for?
BTH, I wonder how the new Sheriff who wants lots of money will work with Peterjohn as a Commissioner. And it was the democratic candidate who was the more fiscally conservative of the choices yet he lost
Of the three city manager candidates presented to the city council, this fellow, Robert Layton, is by far the best qualified.
In his lead-in paragraph, Eagle opinion editor, Phillip Brownlee, should have said, “ignored strong recommendations of business and labor leaders FROM OTHER TOWNS AND STATES, REMNANTS OF THE “GOOD OLD BOY NETWORK,” who supported Sedgwick County Manager, Bill Buchanan.”
These are the people who want to continue to spend Sedgwick County taxpayers into a deeper financial hole. Anybody heard of the gigantic national recession that is growing, snarling, growling at Wichita’s doorstep?
Incidentally, the entire Wichita City Council should now vote unanimously in favor of Robert Layton so he is not scared off by the threat of a one vote majority.
Some interesting inside ball. Not much to add to the sentiment that this represents a shot against the ICT-Cabal.
I did like this snippet from The Eagle’s story, though:
“After Brewer and Longwell responded to questions at a news conference, Skelton walked to the lectern and said he hoped the debate hadn’t broken any relationships.
“It’s my heart to patch any wounds that have been opened here,” he said, as council members sat at a table next to the lectern. “I don’t want those wounds. But I value our relationship, mayor.”
When he returned to his chair, he put his hand on Schlapp’s. She pulled her hand away.”
http://www.kansas.com/news/story/602331.html
Anything that provokes a public hissy fit from Sue Schlapp is good times for CF2K.
Tom – you are definitely correct that it was the Democratic candidate for sherrif who was the fiscal conservative. Also, the Democrat running against Peterjohn was a fiscal conservative who works well with the Republican City Council in Goddard. They had been looking at ways to actually solve the jail problem withou just throwing money at them.
You are right – this will be fun to watch.
Also, the Democrat running against Peterjohn was a fiscal conservative who works well with the Republican City Council in Goddard.
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She was one of two democrats that I voted for. I feel I made a wise choice, as I have always heard good things about the lady.