Is ex-Mayor Dill best choice to assist Campbell’s mayor?

After being out of the public EYE for a little over a year, Jack Dill, the city of Campbell’s former mayor, is back — as the administrator with a whole array of responsibilities and an annual salary of $30,000. Dill, who served as the chief executive for 10 years before being defeated in his re-election bid in 2009, was appointed by Campbell’s new mayor, Bill VanSuch, the former president of city council.

VanSuch took over the top job last month when Mayor George Krinos resigned after being in office since Jan. 1, 2010. Krinos was a political newcomer when he challenged Dill in the 2009 election and scored an unexpected victory. By a vote of 1,538 to 1,157, the residents of the city threw out an experienced officeholder with a strong record of accomplishments and replaced him with a man with no professional or educational background to manage a city — even a small one. But Krinos won, and it wasn’t long before it became clear he was in over his head.

His resignation was an indication of how wrong the voters got it when they elected him over a five-term mayor who had done well in guiding the city through troubled economic times.

The city is still under state-mandated fiscal emergency, which was declared in 2004. A steady hand at the till is demanded, as Campbell maneuvers through the roiling waters.

Mayor VanSuch, with his experience as a lawmaker, promises to steer the city toward fiscal stability. And, he has appointed Dill to help him.

Given the former mayor’s political baggage, as evidenced by the outcome of the 2009 election, was making him city administrator the best move for the new administration? Would it not have been better to bring in someone with government experience, but without a cadre of detractors?

Time will tell. The mayor says that he considered three individuals for the job, including the administrator he fired. Lew Jackson had been hired by Dill in December 2007.

Dill had expressed an interest in the administrator’s job, according to the mayor. The third person has not been identified, but he did not submit to a formal interview.

While we have long supported Dill, who ran for office after spending many years as the owner a successful hardware business, we are concerned that another government job has been filled without it being advertised.

There were no r sum s submitted by the three contenders, and while the $30,000 a year salary might not seem that great (compared with what others in government make), the job comes with full benefits.

Openness in hiring

By soliciting r sum s through an application process, the mayor would have struck a blow for openness in the hiring of government workers. For too long in this area, jobs have been handed out on the basis of personal relationships instead of qualifications.

To be sure, the mayor has the right to appoint anyone he wants to be the administrator, but thought must be given to a reality that is confronting the Mahoning Valley: College educated young people are leaving in droves because they can’t find work here.

The administrator is responsible for supervising police, fire, street, parks and sewage-treatment departments, is the manager of the water department and is a purchasing agent for all city departments.

Given those responsibilities, perhaps Mayor VanSuch made the right decision in tapping Dill.

Time will tell.