The Eureka City Manager Search

Yesterday's story in the Times- Standard about the continuing search for a Eureka city manager reads a little funny to me. When recent city manager, Bill Panos, resigned, the story at the time read as if it was a shame to see him go. Maybe they were just being polite?

Now they're saying they want a more thorough background check, citing some not so favorable incidents in Panos' past and at least some in city hall that weren't fond of his management style. I can't help but wonder if this is more along the line of "You can't quit on us. You're fired!", by those left high and dry by his sudden resignation?

It now sounds as if the powers- that- be want to beat themselves over the head with an even more intensive screening of any potential new city managers- deeper background checks and such. I don't see the point when they can hire the current Assistant City Manager, Mike Knight, who is already acting as city manager.

Why not? In Mike Knight we have a known commodity that's lived in the area for a long time. He's hardly likely to up and leave abruptly as just about any other out of town candidate has the potential to do. If things don't work out the city council can always put Knight back in his former position of assistant and start a new search for city manager.

 I don't see any downside to giving an experienced local guy a chance at the job.