At last week's meeting, Mayor Amie Breeze, who originally supported the idea of hiring a headhunter to conduct a broad search for a
Councilmember Joe Callinan joined her in opposing a nationwide search. But here's the odd thing. When their position did not prevail among their colleagues at the Oct. 13 meeting, both the mayor and Callinan refused to participate any further in the selection of an executive search firm. They essentially have left it to their City Council colleagues, Gina Belforte, Jake Mackenzie and Pam Stafford, to pick the finalists to be interviewed for the search job.
One might expect to see that kind of reaction on a playground. But at a City Council meeting?
The speculation is that Breeze and Callinan are hoping to bring Carl Leivo back in as city manager, succeeding the much-respected Steve Donley who recently resigned to stay in the U.S. Coast Guard. Hence, the emphasis on a local search.
Leivo, who became city manager in 2003, was ousted in March of 2005, about three months after a
Is this the kind of divisiveness that the city of
In any event, it doesn't appear the votes are there to go that route anyway. But it will be interesting to see what Breeze and Callinan decide to do at the next City Council meeting on Oct. 26. Will they vote on picking an executive search firm - or will they sit it out again because they didn't get their way?
- Paul Gullixson
This playground behavior is not new. The same thing happened with the landscaping equipment. Joe and Amie voted to renew the contract of an outside vendor to handle Rohnert Park's landscaping needs. Gina, Pam and Jake voted to allow the city to take care of it in house - at quite a savings to the city. After Joe and Amie lost their vote, they voted NOT to fund the equipment purchase needed to get the job done. And, no, I am not kidding.
It really does not matter. Donley - Schwartz are every bit as corrupt as Leivo ever was. At least Leivo didn't try to conceal his political activity. Leivo would stand outside city hall with a picket sign saying who he wanted on the city council.
Donley - Schwartz got the city council to use tax money to influence the outcome of an election to nullify Measure L by hiring a "consultant" to write a "report" saying that the city needs to raise sewer rates. I emailed this "consultant" to ask if he ever recommended anything other than a rate increase. He responded that he could remember not recommending a rate increase only once. That, of course, is why Donley - Schwartz wanted to use tax money to hire him!
Callinan and Breeze are spoiled little brats.