The problem is entertaining the idea that some things in life — even when they involve politicians — can be simple. Eliminate that silly notion and you eliminate the prospect of being disappointed six days into a new year (and less than a month into a new mayor’s administration).
In December newly elected Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and three members of the City Council decided to appoint someone to fill Casillas Salas’s vacant council seat. Forty-four people applied for the job and earlier this week the mayor and council members Patricia Aguilar, Pamela Bensoussan and John McCann whittled the candidate list down to eight.
A reporter asked for a list of nominees submitted by each member of the council. You’d think he was asking for the city’s bank account information and PIN.
The city’s response, as advised by the City Attorney’s Office, was the information was non-disclosable because it was part of the deliberative process. However, if any of the members of the council wanted to share that information, they could.
Of the four — Aguilar, Bensoussan, Casillas Salas and McCann — only McCann demonstrated common sense and leadership by offering the names of those he thought should move on to the round of interviews.
Aguilar and Bensoussan have remained silent and the mayor took refuge beneath the shelter of deliberation.
In my mind, the names are the results of the deliberation, not the actual deliberating.
If you’re like me and were naively thinking that change prompts change then this demonstration is a disappointing turn of events.
Given that most if not all of the people on the council dais have championed the cause of government transparency —especially during the recent campaign season — you’d think they’d be clamoring for ways to make information available to the public. You’d think they’d be welcoming opportunities to publicly name who they believe should be considered for the job of city representative. You’d think they want to do everything within their power to earn and deserve the public’s trust.
You’d also be a dope.
Aside from McCann’s refreshing approach, the overall response from the city has been a let-down.
The council has already removed the public’s direct participation in the selection of a new council person and now it seems a majority of them are eliminating the revelation of even the most insignificant disclosures in the selection process.
Why is it important to know who nominated who? Most significantly because it involves the selection of the people’s representative. In the absence of an election it’s important to know what relationships exist, if any, between nominators and nominees. Are they business partners, best friends, campaign donors? For now we don’t know.
Not a great start to a new year and a new administration. But then were you expecting something else? You were? Sucker.
