Our freeholders are taking up the issue of whether we need a county executive, separating executive and legislative functions. It seems a straight-forward question, and the answer does, too. In our democratic history, separation of powers — usually legislative, executive, and judicial — has worked at national, state and local levels. Well, it has worked most of the time — not always efficiently nor effectively but always least destructive of freedom for all.
A less clear question is whether the proposed executive should be elected or appointed. My counsel is to have the executive elected. Otherwise, we simply have what we have already: a county administrator under a new name. If the executive is beholden to the legislative branch for gaining and holding the job, it can hardly be passed off as separation of powers.
In the appointing of department heads, there must be a cooperative process between the two branches, with neither having complete control. My suggestion would be to require the legislative branch to provide a list of names, three to five, within 60 days of a vacancy being announced. Let the executive choose anyone from that list without further interference.
Peter Henrickson
Vancouver
