Jim Routledge
Candidate for Nanaimo Mayor 2014
PRESS RELEASE
Jim
Routledge Oct.
20, 2014
Candidate
for Mayor of Nanaimo – Press Release
City
Manager has to go!
I’ve made
no secret of the fact that one of the key planks in my platform is ousting the
current city manager and hiring the best we can find – with an MBA at minimum.
Given the
results we have seen at City Hall, it’s quite simple to extrapolate that any
business owner or Board of Directors would take a similar action. We have
consistently seen poor and slow results – not to mention outright errors and
poor judgment. Even when errors aren’t the direct result of the city manager’s
actions, he must ultimately take responsibility for the actions of his staff –
and for the hiring of that staff.
In fact, I
question the hiring of the current manager in the first place – no job search,
no job competition – simply putting in place the next person “in line.” This is
no way to run a city.
The
Leadercast debacle is just one example of a system failure - the real telling
thing about that is that there was no move taken to change anything to indicate
what went wrong. This error must land squarely at Ted Swabey’s feet. As for the
subsequent “cover-up” and lack of information to the public, that is simply a
deliberate lack of open and honest communication – but that’s a different
topic.
When I make
mistakes, I assess what went wrong and do something different; I make a change.
I take responsibility for my errors.
I have seen
nothing as a result of Leadercast or other slow and poor results. I have heard
many calls for a core review at City Hall. I propose to start by hiring an
extremely able and competent city manager who can turn this ship around and
work with Mayor and Council as a fully functioning team.
