I have studied the proposed Clark County charter, and I am a strong proponent of its passage. To me, the key provision of the charter is the hiring of a professional, skilled, full-time county manager to administer what has become a huge budget, nearing a billion dollars a year. This individual would be hired … or terminated … “at will” based on their qualifications and their performance.
I worked 45 years as a consulting engineer implementing projects with public agencies throughout the United States. It was my experience that those agencies that had highly skilled professional managers were far better managed and efficient than those wherein elected commissioners were involved in day-to-day management.
It also makes good sense that expansion of the commission to five members would result in a commission more representative of the county constituents, and with broadened perspectives and knowledge.
Bob Chapman
Vancouver
