Re: Optional form of govt

[Kenneth Gallant <gallantk@uidaho.edu>]

Obviously by now, everyone knows it is
easy to get me to rise to any bait that is offered, but OK, I *will*
respond to Bert's point:

We cannot make the commission offices non-partisan--that's from the Idaho
Constitution and Statutes.

It's true that two commissioners have raised havoc in Bonner County, and
the other elected officers have done ZERO to protect the citizenry from
them.  At least an appointed manager would provide insulation for the
daily operations of county government that affect the citizenry--the size
of tax assessment, routine police patrols, welfare determinations,
weed control, etc. That really does seem to
be the experience nationally--insulation helps.

We are afraid we will elect bad people to office of county commissioner,
but
we think the same electorate, us, that elects those people will do
better electing a sheriff or assessor.  

This is a difficult argument
considering that in democratic theory, the policymaking and ultimate
accountability
functions of  the commissioners are appropriate for elective office, but
the technical functions of the row offices generally are not.
It's also a difficult argument given that the more elective offices there
are, the less time the average citizen has to pay attention to
qualifications for any one of them.  (And to the many of us on the list
who do pay attention to the plethora of offices, well this list is made
up of Moscow's political junkies, including me) I'd rather have us all pay
good attention to electing the commissioners, rather than indifferent
attention to a boatload of offices. 


Kenneth S. Gallant
Moscow, Idaho 83844-2322 USA
208-885-6541 (phone)
208-885-4628 (fax)
gallantk@uidaho.edu

On Tue, 20 Oct 1998, Bert Cross wrote:

> I've read the full report and listened to arguments pro and con and 
> have decided to vote against the optional form of county government.  
> The thing that bothers me most is still having only three 
> commissioners.  We have seen what havoc only two commissioners can 
> cause (look at Bonner County).  I would opt for at least five.  And 
> since their work load would be diminished, salaries should be reduced 
> to help pay the county administrator's salary.  We also might 
> consider making the commssion offices non-partisan.  The commission 
> would then be a policy-making body with the adminstrator carrying out 
> its policies.
> 
> The ironic thing in the current election is this:  If I vote for 
> assessor, county clerk, and county treasurer and then vote FOR the 
> optional form, I am then voting to rescind my three prior votes.  
> 
> I agree we need to fine-tune our county government and make it more 
> efficient and effective.  The county manager concept is generally a 
> good one.  More officers should be appointed rather than elected. But 
> we need to work out some of the bugs before we jump to this rather 
> drastic and sudden change.  
> 
> I also must plead guilty to failing in my own civic responsibility 
> when the study commission was seeking public input, as many of us 
> did.
> 
> Bert Cross
> 1448 Borah Ave.
> Moscow, ID 83843
> Phone: (208) 882-7660
> email: bcross@uidaho.edu
>