Should we elect people to fill nonpolicymaking positions?
Doug Miller has a column in the Columbia Flier/Howard County Sun of Nov. 30 in which he argues against it.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=573&NewsID=766218&CategoryID=5798&show=localnews&om=1
I very much agree. Candidates for policymaking offices can take stands on issues that we voters can be either for or against and vote accordingly. Candidates for such offices as sheriff, clerk, or various kinds of judge can only tell you that they would be more competent than the others at performing the essential administration or judicial functions of that office. It would seem to me to make more sense for these to be civil service type positions for which one would have to pass a test and be appointed by either the County Executive or the governor from among the the list of those who can show by the test results that they are competent to perform these functions. Confirmation could be by either the Council or the state legislature. Is it enough that candidate X for sheriff or clerk of court or register of wills has a good personality or is a member of your political party? I think not.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=573&NewsID=766218&CategoryID=5798&show=localnews&om=1
I very much agree. Candidates for policymaking offices can take stands on issues that we voters can be either for or against and vote accordingly. Candidates for such offices as sheriff, clerk, or various kinds of judge can only tell you that they would be more competent than the others at performing the essential administration or judicial functions of that office. It would seem to me to make more sense for these to be civil service type positions for which one would have to pass a test and be appointed by either the County Executive or the governor from among the the list of those who can show by the test results that they are competent to perform these functions. Confirmation could be by either the Council or the state legislature. Is it enough that candidate X for sheriff or clerk of court or register of wills has a good personality or is a member of your political party? I think not.
posted by Ken | 3:33 PM
2 Comments:
I agree as well. It seems bizarre to me to elect someone for an administrative position where they have no policy making authority.
Based on the County Executive we just elected, I would prefer to not have him appoint anyone.
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