Public Should have been Involved in Manager Hire

I was blissfully watching Lake Huron shimmer from Mackinac Island last week when text messages buzzed.

Flash! Cedar Rapids has a new city manager. Break the news. Pop the bubbly.

The City Council's cleverly quiet quest to snare a hot hand from the Tall Corn State had indeed netted its quarry, and he's a top dog, not a lap dog. Take that, dim, doubting scribe. We do know what we're doing.

The hot hand is Jeff Pomeranz, city manager in West Des Moines, where snazzy malls, massive subdivisions and corporate campuses seem to spring up overnight. Stand around a vacant lot too long in WDM and you'll find yourself inside a new condo. He's quite a catch, I must say.

From what I've read, the Cedar Rapids council is smitten, so the vote to hire Pomeranz is a formality. They're impressed by his resume and track record, his work as chair of the I-JOBS board, his knowledge of our state and its political landscape. They courted, interviewed and tested. They loved what they heard.

So all's well that ends well. Congrats.

Still, that dim, doubting slice of my thinker can't help but wonder whether quick, quiet, handpicking is the best way to hire the biggest, priciest cog in a city machine that's supposed to be powered by the will of the people. I'm afraid the answer is no. Council members can now toss the paper aside or click this closed in disgust.

I'm not saying they needed to embark on a long, nationwide search. We will, however, miss bringing multiple pros in to see what they think about issues facing this town. A search can be a source of new ideas and fresh perspectives.

But I understand the need for speed. So I really don't mind that council members dispensed with lengthy process, went out and found their guy.

Still, would it be such a big deal to hold one forum where Pomeranz takes questions from the public for 30 minutes before he is officially hired? Maybe an hour? Throw a bone to your bosses out there in the cheap seats. Surely they'll be just as impressed, wowed and convinced as you are.

There's plenty of time. He doesn't take over until September. Oh, and when he does take over, he'll be making management decisions that will impact the lives and pocketbooks of thousands of people. How about letting a few of those folks at least feel like they had a hand in hiring him?

I know, I know. Too late. He'll be great. Everybody says so. Let's vote before he has second thoughts about leaving Jordan Creek for rougher waters. Again, I hope the council knows what it's doing.

Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@gazcomm.com