Are YOU Qualified for City Council? Take the Test Here... Issue #14

Click-Through Test Below See how you stack up against expectations the current Council has for their soon-to-be-appointed colleague. The process sounded good when The Ant first read about it. Council is to fill the open seat with a "transparent process" of evaluating applications, narrowing the field, asking for written responses to a list of questions, and then a personal interview in public. In practice, the process/scoring system to select the finalists, as well as the number of finalists to be considered, were apparently determined in closed session, and not explained to the applicants nor the public. The five finalists have been asked to answer 22 questions in writing. Make your own judgments when you see the questions. We had expected questions about education, training, career experience, decision-making experience, potential conflicts of interests, prior public service, management experience and other positions of leadership. Instead, The Red Ant was astonished to read the actual questions put forth, including Jack Johnson's question "How would you behave on City Council if you had evidence someone appearing before Council was lying?" Additionally, the incumbents up for re-election in May (Mayor Ireland and Councilman Jack Johnson) attempt to elicit a promise on whether or not the applicant will run for office next May. And please note the partisan and sarcastic reference to Sarah Palin. Take the ApplicANT's test yourself, anonymously. We have renumbered the list of Council questions, putting the more "interesting" ones first. The questions as posed by Council were almost all open ended questions, therefore, in order to more easily compile results, WE CRAFTED POTENTIAL MULTIPLE CHOICE RESPONSES. But the questions are as posed by Council. Here's the rather fun and anonymous test we created using the Council's official questions: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2dhnigwflvuxh1m/start If you don't want to take the test, and just want to see the questions, go to www.TheRedAnt.com and note the link for the questions at the top right hand side of page. While you are there, feel free to weigh in on the process or the candidates under consideration. http://theredant.squarespace.com/red-ant-blog/2008/10/3/councils-favorite-applicants.html#comments

Update on October 5 by Elizabeth

Because the local papers have a farther reach than The Red Ant, this sent to both local papers:

Dear Editor:

Often the questions we ask reveal a lot about us. Such is the case with the twenty-two question take-home test our City Council requires of each of the five finalists for the open seat on Council.

Apparently the Council considers political leanings and positions on local issues to be more important than decision making skills, leadership experience, past public service and teamwork skills. See the 22 rather surprising Council-crafted questions at www.TheRedAnt.com and make your own judgment. Consider how you would respond if asked these questions.

Neither the applications nor the questions require any information on education, personal history, background, career experience, but especially potential conflicts of interests. Apply for an account at The Miner’s Building and you’ll have to give more information than for a City Council seat! Could it be that Council members feel that they know the finalists and their personal affairs so well that such inquiry is unnecessary? Hmmm.

Apparently the Council believes that they are being “lied to” by citizens, and go so far as to ask how a candidate would react. (Perhaps they’re looking for a new member to help abuse citizens when they dare to challenge Council direction, which some Council members characterize as “misrepresentation.”)

One of the more appalling questions is asking candidates for a commitment as to whether or not they’ll run for Council in May, 2009, when Mick and Jack may be running as incumbents. The mere notion of trying to influence the race as part of this process appears to be self-serving governance and unadorned politics. Such a question should cause us all to question the appropriateness of these governance standards. And especially, why we tolerate such low standards.

Our City Council is elected - based on Charter requirements - to avoid political party partisan politics. Regardless of which presidential slate we support, Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike are offended by the partisan nature of the final question of the 22. Whether it is an attempt to elicit the candidate’s position on presidential politics or a juvenile attempt at humor, it has no place on a formal questionnaire for Council decision making.

We will gain interesting insights into how our Council views their roles, responsibilities, and priorities as we watch them appoint the next Council member. Let’s hope that they invite Grassroots TV to film the public interviews with the Council candidates, and reinforce their stated commitment to transparency.

Regardless of the outcome, the nineteen citizens who volunteered for this huge effort of public service deserve our appreciation and acknowledgment.

Marilyn Marks

Aspen,. CO

Comments

[Topgun]

The questions Council has given the five candidates to answer are appallingly bias and indicate without question how one-sided and unbalanced Council is in its determination to select an interim member as prejudice and pre-judgmental as they are.

I was astonished to read a quotation in the newspaper when Jack Johnson said one of the criteria upon which he will base his selection of an interim councilmember is " their politics". Is Mr. Johnson not aware this is against the law---he is not allowed by law to do this?

Many citizens were astonished Council chose such incompetent candidates without finance experience. Does Council want to perpetuate the current financial fiascos?

As for Jim Pomeroy, who says he wants to serve on council because he wants to "serve his town". Sorry, that ain't enuf! Aspen needs real financial expertise, not someone pretending. Pomeroy says, "I truly believe that there is a strong and resolute group in this valley that wish to do away with employee housing, and I fear that if it is not bolstered and strengthened soon, it may very well go away." Pomeroy doesn't even make sense. He talks about a group against employee housing that needs to be bolstered before it goes away? Back to school, Jim.

There remains only one candidate of the five finalists with the financial and economic knowledge and expertise to do an effective job on council. It remains to be seen if Council has the wisdom to make the right decision.
Discouraged,
Topgun