Guest opinion: Making the city manager an election issue is not proper
I was aghast to read the article which appeared on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009 in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze. The question that was asked of all candidates for mayor and the city council of Cape Coral pertained to the city manager’s performance and if they would retain him. I feel that this question was totally uncalled for and unnecessary. Such articles only add more fuel to a contentious situation that is currently taking place on the Cape.
There is a very divisive phenomena that has evolved during this and the past election for the city council and mayor in Cape Coral. It is the debate about whether the current city manager is doing an adequate job and should he be retained. I have a few observations about this.
First, it is the city council that must answer the question and they have done so. This was done earlier this year when the council evaluated the city manager. The majority determined that his performance was acceptable and opted to extend his contract through February of 2011.
As we all should know, the manager is an “at will” employee and the council may choose to terminate his employment at any time, with or without cause. Since City Manager Stewart is still in the position, one must make the assumption that the majority of the council remains confident in his work.
There are candidates who are advocating for dismissal of the manager. They wish to lay the blame for every city action with which they do not agree upon his shoulders. Let’s keep in mind that the city manager takes direction from the city council and answers to them for any and all actions. Are these candidates forgetting that the manager and his staff implement the decisions that are made by the majority of the city council?
Majority is the key word as it makes such votes a final decision of the council even when there are dissenting votes. The manager does not have the right or even the option to do other than that which is decided by the council. Even if he were to agree with a council member who voted in the minority, he cannot just ignore the majority and follow the wishes of a member on the losing side of a vote.
Once council has chosen a course of action, it is the responsibility of the city manager and his staff to implement the action and to give it their full and complete support. When those opposed to the council’s chosen course of action ask critical questions or voice unfounded criticism of the decision it is the manager’s responsibility to respond and to do so in a highly supportive manner.
While those now complaining about the manager take offense to this support, you can bet they would demand equally avid support from him were they in the majority of a decision under attack. It seems the critics of the manager should realize they would need a city manager who has demonstrated the willingness and ability to implement and avidly support council policy decisions.
Certain candidates for city council elected office have also stated that the city is in dire financial straits, that the city has overspent and been fiscally irresponsible in recent years. Ignoring some very salient points, they direct attention to the manager as the one responsible for causing their perceived problems.
As a five year member of the city’s Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) I can attest to those candidates the following:
The city is not in dire financial straits. Just as for every other local government, the national and local economies are responsible for much our difficulties in Cape Coral. The city debt position is better than the national average, we have not failed to pay our bills, and actions have been taken to trim both employee positions and overall costs.
The amount of the city’s budget and what it will be spent upon is determined and set by the city council not by the manager and staff.
The council in March set a targeted budget of $116.3 million which the city manager conformed to and worked with. His proposed millage rate was realistic and in my estimate on the low side. My feeling was confirmed when the council further raised the maximum millage rate at their meeting on Aug. 3.
The city manager cannot expend more than $50,000 without prior approval of city council.
The manager has taken no actions in opposition to the policy decisions of the city council. Once the decisions are made, he and staff work hard to make it happen.
The fact that certain candidates would choose to make the city manager a prime election issue is very telling about who they are and the character of what they represent. They know very well that the professional ethics of a city manager prevent him from involvement in political campaigns. Because of this they know that in election forums they will not be faced with a direct public challenge from the person they criticize. It is a tactic they believe carries little risk to them politically, yet allows them to point an accusatory finger at their incumbent opponents.This seems like a rather cowardly approach and one not worthy of anyone who wants to represent our city as an elected official.
I ask that the press please be more vigilant and ask more pertinent questions of the candidates. There are many more pressing issues then attacking the city manager i.e. what are each candidates’ qualifications; what is their suggestion for future growth; how would they encourage businesses to relocate to the Cape; what is their vision for the Cape; how will they work to make the Cape a better place to live, work and play; etc., etc.
I like many other citizens of the Cape are tired of these shenanigans and the misinformation being bantered about and around town. Let these naysayers boost the City’s image rather then tear it down.
Irwin A. Gordon
Cape Coral