Wednesday’s virtual dinnertime conversation with the two finalists for Durango’s city manager position affirmed to us the value of putting an individual with a variety of leadership or close-to-leadership experiences in a community’s top management seat.
When the relationship between the public health department and city government came up, Jose Madrigal answered, “I’ve been in a leadership position with a city that has a public health department.” About the unusual arrangement between the fire district and the city (Durango pays the district for services) and how to locate and fund building and equipment needs, Madrigal said he’d been in a leadership position with a city that had a fire department.
Recreation? Madrigal said that is very, very important, and that he had helped build a city recreation center.
Amber Blake knows multi-modal transportation backward and forward; so, too, sustainability. She has led the creation of plans for those efforts for Durango’s administration.
When it comes to strategic plans, the nod goes to Madrigal. Several of his answers began with, what does the strategic plan say? He spoke frequently and clearly about their importance. He has done strategic plans.
Madrigal, in Durango with his family a few weeks ago, had just the right degree of first impressions: Durango already has set a high bar when it comes to appeal, he said (What a mountain backdrop!), but an additional emphasis on pedestrians, parks, public art and public places for people to meet, were his suggestions. We expect Durangoans like that list.
The Durango Herald’s editorial board thinks Madrigal has a lot to offer Durango.
Now, how to give Madrigal a wholehearted welcome? In the order line at a Durango Joe’s location, we overheard a conversation about the city manager search. The speaker thought Madrigal should be selected. If Blake were to withdraw, the speaker said, City Council members would then be able to be unanimous in their vote.
We like that.
We believe that under Madrigal’s broad tutelage – Blake’s years with the city and her 10 months in the interim position give her a lot to offer – the city could have a winning combination. Blake is well regarded and continuing in her previous assistant city manager’s position would add to any conversation about the city’s past and planning for its future.
City Council wants to fill the city manager position in short order, and it should. We think it has an excellent candidate in Jose Madrigal, and we hope he receives the council’s unanimous support.
