Cronyism: the appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority, without regard to their qualifications.
This almost happened, Durango. But thanks to the transparent leadership of City Councilors Kim Baxter and Barbara Noseworthy, we have a new, highly qualified city manager (“Durango offers city manager position to Texas candidate,” Aug. 21).
Mayor Dean Brookie, speaking about a past human resource issue during the hiring of Jose Madrigal, said, “I have no concerns about his actions. I’m concerned about his transparency.”
Mayor Brookie, we have concerns about your judgment, based on your total support for former Finance Director Julie Brown’s inability to maintain the city’s finances, then embezzling more than $700,000 under your watch, and that of others in leadership positions at the city and based on you supporting former City Manager Ron LeBlanc’s failed leadership.
Yes, you’ve done something wrong. Yes, you have supported something that has proved to be illegal. And yes, you have not been transparent in your actions.
Durango does not feel well represented by you anymore, and we will vote you off City Council.
Wendy SchumacherDurango
