This has truly been an unprecedented year in City Politics.
It is unprecedented that a Mayor of our fine Frogopolis would die in office, necessitating the elevation of the President of Toledo City Council to the mayoralty. It’s even more unprecedented for a sitting member of Toledo City Council to pass on a scant few weeks later.
All this die-off in the elected class has led to the need to fill positions on Council not once but twice, one for the central city District 4 representative seat vacated by the elevation of Paula Hicks Hudson and one to represent the entire city as an at large rep in the place of the deceased Jack Ford. The appointment of Cecilia Adams, a member of the Toledo School Board, to City Council opened a slot on the Board. The appointment to fill the Board seat means three appointments to elected office in less than two months in T-Town.
Qualifying exam
This oddity got us to thinking. The Council and School Board followed different processes to fill their respective positions, but they both had a few things in common. An application process whereby prospective candidates provided a letter of interest and resume. Interviews, whether in public or private. And a final tally to determine the appointee which involved a bit of wrangling before the winner received a majority of votes of the remaining Council or Board members.
You know what else both processes had in common? Only cursory discussion about what qualifies someone to fill either post.
Oh, there’s the legal stuff about qualified elector and residency. But what other job have you applied for that has nothing about job requirements in the job listing?
Since the electeds didn’t think about it, we will humbly take on the task. Here are the qualifications as we sees ‘em.
Age. This is a tricky one. We don’t want someone so young as to be inexperienced nor so old as to be out of touch. How old must you be to capture the skills needed to oversee a budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars? How young must you be to still have a grasp on how to attract and retain the best and the brightest young Toledoans? How old must you be to connect with the movers and shakers of business and politics? How young must you be to understand the rapid progress of technology and culture?
OK, forget about age. Experience is what counts. The candidate must have a broad ability to understand budgets, personnel matters, neighborhood development, housing markets, environmental issues, job creation and retention, recreation opportunities, and provision of basic public services. Plus lots more. And to understand the political environment it all comes wrapped in, including the ability to connect with constituents in a meaningful way.
But we don’t want a jack of all trades and master of none. The perfect candidate would know a touch of everything, but have a depth of particular expertise in one glaring area of need. A parent’s voice on the School Board. And an educator’s. A business voice on Council. And a neighborhood activist’s.
Wow, who could possibly fill all those needs? And still be young enough to not smell like liniment and Geritol? Forget the experience thing too, it’s way too complicated.
How about required skills? Computer savvy? That would leave out about half the current elected class. Communication ability? Nah, have you ever heard some of our elected leadership stumble and stutter through a prepared speech? Besides, they have people to do that.
A thick skin to deal with the constant bombardment of criticism is certainly important. We should know, we’re the ones lobbing the stink bombs every other week. But other than that? Your guess is as good as ours.
Survivor series
Let’s face it, folks. It all boils down to this. Who can navigate the crocodile-filled waters of City Politics and make it to the farther shore. It’s sorta like Survivor: The Great Black Swamp. It has a little bit to do with character, integrity, intelligence, knowledge and the ability to honestly represent the bulk of We the People. A little bit to be sure. Albeit slightly tinged with a little bit of self-serving double dealing. However.
It really boils down to something far more basic. Who can get the votes.
How does the winning candidate get them? Now there’s where the little bit of character, etc., is overwhelmed by a whole lot of bare-knuckle City Politics. If you don’t know what that means you haven’t been reading this column.
Believe us when we tell you. The elected class certainly does read this column. So should you.
