A no-brainer

Dear editor:

In 22 years of living in Hot Springs, I have seen numerous missteps by the city, but none worse than the hiring of the last city manager. The city got snookered, or worse.

I have often said that some of our recent city managers have taken “The Pursuit of Happiness” and replaced it with “The Pursuit of the Least Amount of Misery” for its citizens.

It appears to me that many city managers come with their own negative baggage. Perhaps it’s something in their training or education.

Prior to the last city manager being voted in by the board of directors, there was an opportunity for citizens to meet the prospective candidates.

I did go and spoke to each one that was present. I asked each one a simple question: “What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?” Not one knew the answer. Something I learned, on my own, studying President Lincoln’s history, in the fourth grade (60 years ago).

At that gathering, I noticed Bill Burrough, who was the acting city manager at that time. I asked him the same question. He answered correctly!

I suggest, to the city, that your next city manager is right under your nose. I would take Bill’s decades of real-life management skills over any college degree.

The answer was: While a democracy is governed by majority rule, a republic, while still governed by majority rule, must protect minority/individual rights. Something the last city manager had not a clue.

Save us all the misery and cost of another city manager dragging in his or her own negative baggage.

Keep Bill Burrough right where he is! John Girolamo Hot Springs