Why Steve and Skip get a pass
This week's column.
Hold on to your hard hat.
Steve Arnold and Skip Alston’s extreme makeover of county government continues unchecked.
Alston, the chairman of the county commissioners, and Arnold, the vice chairman, are not only rearranging the furniture, they are blowing stuff up (in a figurative sense, at least), firing top leaders, laying off people, and re-engineering critical functions.
And they say they are doing it in the “best interests” of the citizens — even though they haven’t seen fit to ask the citizens’ opinions — or in most cases, even their fellow county commissioners’.
Presumably we are supposed to shut up and let them do their thing. After all, they know best.
Input? They don’t need no stinkin’ input.
Specifically, on the issue of the layoffs, Alston has said, “I don’t feel that we have any obligation to let the public know.”
The calculated chaos in county government even prompted local business leaders to demand better behavior on the part of both city and county elected leaders in a March 22 op-ed. They have a right to be concerned. Consider the damage (so far):
Alston and Arnold led the ouster in December of County Manager David McNeill, for reasons that remain unclear, and without the benefit of an evaluation.
They eliminated the job of Deputy County Manager Ben Brown.
They forced the resignation of County Attorney Sharron Kurtz.
Since then no fewer than three interim county attorneys have come and gone in the span of only three months.
They have flouted the state’s open meetings laws.
They have planned and executed one round of layoffs, cutting 35 positions, with another round on the way.
They essentially have taken the model of county government, in which a manager runs the day-to-day operations, and turned it inside-out. Now they manage the county.
And no one seems to care.
Ten reasons for the collective yawn that has greeted the Alston-Arnold coup:
1. They have the votes. Alston and Arnold swept into power on the winds of an unusual alliance between Democrats and Republicans. As long as those votes hold, they’ll be in charge.
2. They are saving us money. The first wave of layoffs alone could amount to $2 million in savings. But what happens if it winds up costing us in critical services and key priorities over the longer term?
3. They are elected from districts. The district system has its advantages. This is not one of them.
Alston has represented District 8 on the board since 1992; Arnold, District 2 since 1990.
They would find it much harder to rule with such impunity if they had to answer to all county voters.
4. One is a Republican and the other, a Democrat. Their alliance blunts the partisan attacks that would usually ensue if both were of one persuasion.
5. They are smart politicians. The idea of an Arnold-Alston team is brilliant in its odd-coupling of two men who are polar opposites on most issues.
6. They have been overshadowed by the upheaval in Greensboro city government — though arguably not as complete and as potentially devastating as what they’re up to.
7. One is black and the other is white. Sadly, too many local problems boil down to race. That’s one reason the David Wray/Mitchell Johnson saga may enjoy a longer run than “Cats.”
There are more grays than blacks and whites to that imbroglio. But we, as a community, have insisted on shoehorning it into two distinct camps, with each side charging the other with racism.
And by getting rid of both McNeill, who is white, and his deputy, Brown, who is black, within a heartbeat of one another, Arnold and Alston effectively removed race as an issue.
8. We’ve become so accustomed to low expectations. The commissioners are so typically combative and dysfunctional that we simply see that as the way things are.
9. A clear majority of commissioners gave Alston and Arnold the keys to the county. Bruce Davis, John Parks, Kirk Perkins, Carolyn Coleman and Linda Shaw placed Alston and Arnold in charge. They should share the credit or take the blame for whatever comes of that.
10. They only can get away with whatever we let them get away with. Public officials ultimately answer to the public, even Skip and Steve.
If we say nothing, they’ll forge merrily ahead, two bulls left free to roam in a nitroglycerin factory. Remember, there’s a still a manager to hire and a budget to pass.
Whatever lasting damage they do we’ll inevitably attribute to “those wacky commissioners.”
But we’re accountable, too. We hired them.
Comments (16)
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I love watching this circus -
Posted on March 29, 2009 5:48 AM
Glad to see you're reading my blog, Allen.
Posted on March 29, 2009 9:24 AM
And it seems to me, Mr. Johnson, that city council members Barber, Rakestraw and Wade know well and are constantly attempting to play the same shoddy "political games" that commissioners Alston and Arnold are playing! Maybe, sometimes "experience is a bad teacher!"
Posted on March 29, 2009 9:27 AM
Its hard for me to believe that there is a majority of commissioners on the board that actually think that leadership like this is good for Guilford County. We definitely need better
leadership and better candidates to run for
local public office. Leadership like this reflects on all of us and gives this county a bad reputaion.
Posted on March 29, 2009 2:18 PM
Zeus80, you're constant tirade about the three courageous council members is noted and the vinyl on your record is already wearing thin.
AJ states: "7. One is black and the other is white. Sadly, too many local problems boil down to race."
Only in the eyes of the N&R Allen, in their constant attempt to market racism to the community. If you guys would remove your racism blinders and look around you may find that most black and white people in this community get along just fine.
Posted on March 29, 2009 2:47 PM
So what's the problem with cutting out the dead wood and have the savings benefit accrue to the taxpayers?
Posted on March 29, 2009 6:29 PM
Tony Wilkins, nice to hear from you! But I am really surprised to know that you "know" that "most" black and white people in this community "get along just fine!" Now tell me how you "know" that Barber, Rakestraw and Wade are "courageous" council members. Is it because they voted to dismiss the former competent city manager, Mitchell Johnson? Was that an act or courage? I really don't think so! (And you talk like you work for John Hammer and the "The Rhino!")
Posted on March 29, 2009 8:08 PM
Gatecity Keeper, just who is to say, "its deadwood?"
Posted on March 29, 2009 8:22 PM
The winner is . . . reason # 2. Now, Allen, I know that not raising taxes seems like a radical and dangerous plan, but since I judge the "cost to critical services and key priorities" to be virtually nil, I support the Alston/Arnold junta as they reduce government by any means necessary.
Posted on March 29, 2009 11:16 PM
A blistering attack by the N&R unleashed against the AAU (Alston-Arnold Union).
The AAU needs to find a piece of "radioactive" real estate owned by certain people, pay considerably over market stating "it doesn't matter because we might not be here tomorrow" and wa-la, press attitudes could change.
Posted on March 30, 2009 9:06 AM
Brian:
I agree that worthwhile budget cuts make sense in this economy.
But HOW they're done does matter.
The commissioners theoretically still work for the taxpayers. If their cause is so universally supported, there should be no harm in working toward it above board and in the light of day ... not behind closed doors.
It is easy to like such tactics when you agree with the end.
What happens when you don't?
Posted on March 30, 2009 9:10 AM
Allen, we're not getting this; why all of a sudden you're worried about the taxpayer when you never said a word about Goldie spending money like a drunken sailor when she said "it doesn't matter..." etc.
Any comment?
Posted on March 30, 2009 10:09 AM
Should this be interpreted as a "no".
Ok.........ay.
Posted on March 30, 2009 11:08 AM
Well, most of the time I disagree with the ends (see TARP), so I know how you feel about the means. And I never claimed that their cause was universally supported, only that it was supported by me. For this reason, I appreciate these brave statesmen who have insulated themselves from the whims of the the masses, many of whom would doubtlessly be clamoring for more spending in a time of crisis (see government, federal).
Posted on March 30, 2009 12:00 PM
Sure, who cares what the people think?
Posted on March 30, 2009 12:54 PM
All elected officials should be mindful of taxpayers' money.
They also should be open to the people about the people's business.
Goldie Wells was wrong to say what she said -- if she said it -- but at least you got to hear her say it in full view of the public.
Posted on March 30, 2009 2:21 PM