Same Faces, Different Positions with Potential Devastation

I just finished reading Cabell County Commissioner JR Blankenship's January 25, 2001 Guest Editorial in the Herald Dispatch.   He was explaining in his editorial piece how the two other commissioners voted to hire some new employees.  Thank you JR for bringing these facts before your constituency.

I understand the Cabell County Commission voted (2 to 1 one) to hire two new employees related to county financial affairs. I think it would have been cheaper to offer Mrs. Jordan, the former county financial expert, a pay raise to stay.  I believe JR identified a $1mil surplus for the county during FY 1999-2000.  Obviously, someone was doing something right.  Can we say the same for the new guy who followed Bob Bailey from the City of Huntington to the county commission?  

This hiring of a county finance director brings up some interesting points.  However, the article does not address some of my concerns.   First, was there a called commission meeting for this purpose? Was there an "order of merit listing" for ALL candidates, and was the position advertised?  Was this hiring on the agenda, or did this action even resemble "acting within the purview of the Sunshine Law?  Finally, the editorial gives me the impression that the commission did not do their homework related to their candidate's work history. 

Did the County Commission take time to read the candidate's (Mr. White) memorandum to the new Mayor of Huntington?  Please recall that Mr. White was the Finance [something or another] for the City of Huntington.  I think he worked for former Mayor Jean Dean.  Isn't there a major buzz around town about Huntington's inherited financial problems?  Wasn't Bob Bailey on the city council at the time?  Hey, where's the money? 

Bottom line folks is that I find the "lack-of-leadership" identified at the City of Huntington creeping across 8^th street in matters now effecting the county.  Yes, I am concerned.  What we have here are two commissioners, one a former city councilman, and the other, a former judge who retained jurisdiction over an earlier county school debacle.  I don't think the county needs more leadership like this.

I would have written the Herald Dispatch regarding their guest editorial but, with Bob Gabordi and his staff acting more like Mayor Dean's Public Relations Department, I don't believe they would have given me any ink.  Even if they had, it would be limited to 200 words.  You know, now that I think about it, I can't recall seeing anything really negative regarding the former Mayor Dean team on Mr. Gabordi's watch.  Do you? Funny thing here is that the city administration still owes the Herald Dispatch money for advertisements, and what ever else. 

I have extracted a few talking points from Mr. White's Finance Report.    This report was given by (then) City of Huntington Finance Director, Glenn White, to (then) Mayor-Elect David Felinton’s Transition Finance Committee Team.  I would like to thank Huntington News Net for publishing the re-print for citizens such as myself to review.  I also would like to thank HNN for allowing me the space for my response. 

Statements like the ones located throughout Mr. White's financial report should have made the Cabell County Commission shiver when making their decision.

Rick Miller

Ona, WV