Our world is growing increasingly complex as governments must balance real and pressing environmental concerns with the need for family-wage jobs. In Clark County, the leader of the environmental services department must focus on the complex environmental issues that face Southwest Washington. He or she must have the education and background that allows him/her to enter the job without requiring additional studies.
Given these issues, Clark County Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke should recognize their mistake in hiring state Sen. Don Benton as director of environmental services. Although Benton has been in politics for a long time, he has no experience in environmental work.
Sadly, politics became the driving force in the decision to hire a director of a department that must coordinate all environmental aspects of federal, state and local policies. Stormwater management, open space and sensitive areas, solid waste management and other challenges will become more complicated as the county population grows.
The decision to hire an unqualified director will, over time, cost county taxpayers more money than they would have paid if the county’s leaders has employed a qualified director.
