ROCHESTER - The Monroe County Republicans have done quite a bit to alienate non-Republicans in this county. Name calling, hard ball politics, and cronyism all come to mind. They have stacked boards and authorities. They have denied Democrats the ability to introduce legislation. They have pitted the suburbs against the city. They have appointed political hacks all over the county administration. They have, for the most part, quietly forced themselves into every corner of public administration, qualified or not. But this time they are going too far. The news that Republicans are adding Bill Smith as a finalist to be President of Monroe Community College is disturbing. The guy has literally no educational experience (unless of course going to school counts). MCC is one of the best community colleges in the northeast, and petty politics may tarnish that forever. Not even all Republicans think this is a good idea. These reasons demand outcry from everyone that has a voice.
Bill Smith is a lawyer who served on the Pittsford Town Board and in the Monroe County Legislature. While in the Legislature he also served as majority leader. By trade, Smith is a lawyer, as mentioned, and has a decent resume there. Good schools and fairly respected firm. But what does any of this have to do with running a community college?
Making a political appointment out of this tarnishes a wonderful reputation for MCC. Students receive an education that rivals many 4 year schools. What sort of message does this send to students, prospective students, faculty and other staffers? "You may be the second largest community college in the state, but in the end you are our little political plaything," Republicans say. Instead of attracting the best and brightest, folks will be hesitant to step into Monroe County's partisan world of patronage and payback.
Most disturbing is that some Republicans oppose this. The MCC Board (9 R's and 1 Conservative) voted 6-4 in favor of adding Smith (and Kessler, who is at least an adjunct professor) to the finalist list. This means that 4 people saw this for what it is and decided to make a stand, to prove this isn't just Democratic whining. Four people think highly enough of the institution they serve to try to avoid this embarrassing backwoods moment.
We are a backwoods town. We are Mayberry with a snobby attitude and without Aunt Bea's pies. Rochester will always be held back as long as we play these petty, small minded political games, trading short term spoils for long term solutions. Until now, they were reserved for authorities and zoning boards, where even the most inept of political hacks could do little long term harm to our community. Not anymore. The Smith move signals a bold new approach to damaging our area in the long term by attacking an educational institution that for years has helped our community maintain our high standard of innovation, education and enlightenment. The Monroe County Republicans have given this county the finger, and we can not let that go.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Is this new? Am I just that jaded that I expect nothing less from this group. It's a brilliant move by Minarik probably his last big move. Republicans are likely to be sent packing because of him but he's probably also the reason they've held on so long.
They're doing what they can to put Republican party hacks in seats of influence to prepare for if and when the Dems take over. They need some place to dole out patronage jobs once Saggy Brooks has gone the way of the dodo.
Post a Comment