To the editor — I’m puzzled by the Herald’s Jan. 10 headline announcing, “Strong Mayor Leadership Favored.” Besides a few City Council members, just exactly who favors replacing the system that has worked well with one which is more costly and has no redeeming features?
I’ve never heard any concern about the performance of our (now) previous city manager. Does one member of the council, past or present, have the basic qualifications that the council requires for a city manager?
The strong mayor is a solution looking for a problem (that doesn’t exist). Let’s remember that just a few years ago the citizens of Yakima voted to reject the strong mayor proposal but now, with all the problems the City Council COULD address, they drag up an expensive, unpopular idea with no rational or redeeming benefits.
By firing the city manager the City Council has sealed their fate for finding a new qualified manager. Who would apply for the manager position which requires working with a council that is proposing to eliminate that position? Thanks to the City Council we will now have our pick of unqualified candidates. Does the council have any more great ideas? Let’s hope they are transparent.
MIKE HILER
Yakima
