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Professional jobs shouldn't be filled at ballot box
Newsday ^ | March 1, 2013 | Masthead Editorial

Posted on 03/02/2013 5:33:52 PM PST by neverdem

Potholes and snowdrifts don't care what political party you belong to.

For that reason, the Newsday editorial board cannot endorse either of the candidates running for the office of superintendent of highways in the Town of Brookhaven. The board also can't endorse the fact that the position is going to be filled by an election, rather than an appointment.

--snip--

Assemb. Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham) has the Republican line on Tuesday's ballot. His opponent, Councilwoman Kathy Walsh, was elected as a Republican. For this race, though, she changed her registration to the Independence Party (a move that won't take effect until November), failed to get that ballot line, and ended up on the Democratic line.

Losquadro cites his experience in government, as well as in the automotive, insurance and construction industries, as preparation for the job. The biggest issue in his candidacy, though, is voter outrage at his vote for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's gun-regulation laws, a matter irrelevant to his or anyone's ability to run a highway department.

Walsh argues that her time on the council, three years of which she served as town deputy supervisor, qualifies her for the job. But the biggest issue in her candidacy isn't familiarity with plowing, spreading salt or managing people. It's the fact that her husband, William Walsh, is an official with the union that represents the highway department's workers...

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: brookhaven; brookhavenli; daniellosquadro; losquadro
A pox on both their houses, but Daniel Losquadro is a weasel RINO whose vote for gun grabbing was unnecessary to pass the Assembly that has about two thirds rats!
1 posted on 03/02/2013 5:34:02 PM PST by neverdem
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To: cyborg; Clemenza; Cacique; NYCVirago; The Mayor; Darksheare; hellinahandcart; Chode; ...
Turn in weapon, get gift card at Newburgh gun buyback event (New York State)

FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.

Hat tips to NoGrayZone on the link and Vaquero on the state board about these gun grabbers!

2 posted on 03/02/2013 6:02:49 PM PST by neverdem ( Xin loi min oi)
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To: neverdem
I'm opposed to councils and committees (which serve to disperse accountability).

I prefer to just vote for a single mayor, who has the power to appoint AND FIRE the schools superintendent, highway manager, etc, and hold that single person accountable for the condition of the area.

3 posted on 03/02/2013 6:16:38 PM PST by PapaBear3625 (You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)
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To: neverdem

“Professional jobs shouldn’t be filled at the ballot box”

I don’t know about that. I kind of like that we can elect the county sheriff and then replace him if we want. We might be better of electing police chiefs and city managers.

The trick is ensuring that we have qualified people to elect, no matter who wins the election.


4 posted on 03/02/2013 6:16:54 PM PST by KrisKrinkle (Blessed be those who know the depth and breadth of their ignorance. Cursed be those who don't.)
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To: KrisKrinkle

The world has become too complicated to rely on the guy who happens to get the most votes to have the skills and expertise needed to run multi-million dollar public enterprises.

That’s why I’m in favor of city and county managers. Check out www.icma.org for what professional management has done to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local government.

Accountability? As one 30+ year City Manager ssys “My job security is 5 votes on a Monday night”. Yes there could be severance pay, but most city managers do not have locked-in contracts, they’re just like any other management level employee in business who can be fired at will.

That’s true accountabilty. Hold your elected officials feet to the hire the best skilled professionals for the job. It’s much better to be able to fire a manager if necessary than to be stuck with the winner of a popularity contest for 4 years.

Elected officials should always hold the power to hire and fire. They just aren’t competent to run the day-to-day operations.


5 posted on 03/02/2013 6:44:35 PM PST by bigbob
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To: neverdem

Blame Andrew Jackson.


6 posted on 03/02/2013 6:49:49 PM PST by Fido969
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To: bigbob

“The world has become too complicated to rely on the guy who happens to get the most votes to have the skills and expertise needed to run multi-million dollar public enterprises.”

As I wrote: “The trick is ensuring that we have qualified people to elect, no matter who wins the election.” If they are qualified they will have the skills and expertise needed.


7 posted on 03/02/2013 9:17:36 PM PST by KrisKrinkle (Blessed be those who know the depth and breadth of their ignorance. Cursed be those who don't.)
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To: neverdem

Thanks for the ping!


8 posted on 03/02/2013 9:24:04 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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