Tuesday the City Council will (finally) appoint a replacement for an elected public official, the city recorder.

Apparently the found a staff person who lives in Ashland to take the job. First, the council needed to decide on the process to do this. They did it secretly; council decisions are required to be made in public.

Second, they never, ever, asked the citizens of Ashland if anyone was interested in becoming city recorder. They just picked who they wanted. That is unethical. That is not how you pick an elected official.

Third, they don’t give us any information on who this person that is being gifted this important position: The city recorder is (well, was) the citizens’ eyes and ears at City Hall. Not anymore. Just a name.

We have to take their “word” that this person is qualified. That this person can do the job. That this person wants the job.

Imagine if a mayor’s position became available again, the only opportunity for the public to participate at all, from the process to the choice, was when council approved a name that was some staff’s choice.

That’s exactly what council will do Tuesday. And they won’t care.

Russ Silbiger

Ashland