In the last two years, we've been awash in political campaigns as hundreds of hopefuls ran for state and national offices. The speeches, debates and daily news reports about the ups and downs of the various campaigns — the incredible numbers of which was underscored by the quiet we've experienced since it all stopped — prompted my previous post. There, I suggested that we require campaigning politicians to continue to do the jobs we elected them to do, and to confine their re-election efforts to off hours.
When the campaigning stopped, however, the appointing began. Newly elected officials vacated old posts, and governors and other constitutionally responsible folk had to replace them. What's more, many of the newly elected also made appointments. Mr. Obama made dozens of them, to his transition team, his Cabinet and various sub-departments and agencies. As a result, hundreds of people are leaving jobs in government for other, more prestigious jobs in government, leaving hundreds of openings in lower-level positions to which even more people must be appointed. That's a lot of turnover, and it ought to concern us.
Case in point. President-elect Obama, who needed a new Secretary of the Interior, tapped our junior U.S. Senator here in Colorado, Ken Salazar, for the job. Mr. Salazar's departure left his seat open, and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter appointed current Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennett to fill it. By all accounts, Mr. Bennett is the best superintendent the Denver Schools have had in some time. My 17-year-old son is a student at one of the charter/magnet schools nurtured under Mr. Bennett's tenure. The school is not perfect, by any means, but it's a long cut above the schools my son has been subjected to in previous stages of his life, and it's not taking praise too far to say that this school is my son's first truly positive educational experience. I don't think he's alone, and I don't think I'm the only parent who believes DPS is making a change for the better.
Unfortunately, Mr Bennett, arguably the single most important catalyst in the positive tide of change, is now off to the U.S. Senate. Cheers went up at his appointment. Legions of people praised Mr. Bennett's abilities as an educational administrator. But no one talked much about how that will translate to great performance as our next junior Senator. While everyone else is praising Gov. Ritter for making such a fine selection, I'm wondering, What's so great about it? We're taking the best super DPS has had in ages out of the school system that still needs his able guidance in the midst of a long-term transition, and putting him into a job that, prior to the last couple of weeks, he's probably never given too much thought. Worse, there already has been a chorus of complaints about the gentlemen that is being considered as his replacement.
Will someone tell me why that's a good thing?
What we have, on the national level, is literally hundreds of Michael Bennetts being plucked from critical jobs in education, health care and other key services where they've been performing missions for which they have a passion, accomplishing important goals that must be met, and we're replacing them with people whose greatest distinction is that they are at best, the second best person for the job.
I've found myself imagining what the world might be like if some of these folks who are making a real difference in their current jobs just said "no" to governors and even to presidents who come knocking. "Sorry Mr. President. It would be a great honor to work with you. I'd love to, really. But I have this important task to complete. You see, I promised these people I'd do this job. I'd like to keep that promise."
Keeping promises. Seeing things through. Finishing what you start. There's a concept for you.
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