Saundra McDavid

Rumor: I was going to fire all of the employees at City Hall.

Fact: This rumor was disturbing because of the fact that it was allowed to persist and magnify by Mayor Nancy Merrill and the city council. I’ve experienced many management changes in the corporate world. When new management takes over, the natural inclination by the staff is a fear of layoffs. A true leader works to keep the staff focused on the work at hand and dispel the rumors and fears as they emerge. This did not happen during the election. In fact, it appeared as if the city leaders were working behind the scenes to create panic among the city employees.

I had no intention of changing any of the city staff, however no one from the city took the time to ask me. I expected a call from the Mayor to address this rumor directly, but none occurred. I realize that the city employees are instructed to work in a certain direction and manner, and I looked forward to leading them in another direction.

Most disturbing in all of this was a “job protection” ordinance that was passed because someone said I was overheard saying that “She is gone” during testimony by a city planner at a city council hearing. Senator Stan Bastian was quoted in the Idaho Statesman relaying this rumor as the reason why the ordinance was drafted. How did this all come about? I vaguely recall during one of the city council meetings whispering to the person sitting next to me that “She is wrong” when I did not agree with something said by the city planner. From this whispered statement our city administration passed an ordinance? What kind of leadership do we have running our city and representing us in the state legislature? It makes me worried about the motivations behind other official actions by our city during these last few years.

Do Senator Bastian, former Mayor Nancy Merrill, Mayor Bandy and Councilman Guerber have such vindictiveness in their character that they would fire everyone who did not agree with them on all matters? They must, if they would assume others would as well. Why are our former and present city leaders so quick to act upon a rumor, instead of taking the time to get the facts straight? These are the people we elected to represent us?

An interesting observation made during Mayor Bandy’s final night as City Councilman: he was expressing concern over the cost of codifying a committee that outgoing Mayor Merrill wanted memorialized. It makes one wonder if those same cost discussions were made over the passing and codifying of the job protection ordinance, which was passed solely because of a rumor? I doubt it.