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Jul
31
2012
Recently, a friend was hired to a position in economic development at an agency that is not part of government, but whose board is appointed by the County Executive. From what I understand, he was hired after a thorough job search by an independent company. He once held the same position years ago, but had to resign as I explain below. Over the past many years, he has been an executive at two of the area’s largest commercial real estate developers and, as far as I know, well respected by that community.
There was a public attack on him by the county’s prosecuting attorney who questioned his hiring, asked that he be fired, and said: “the Economic Council's move was akin to the county Health Department hiring a drug addict to buy pharmaceuticals,” according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. While I believe in analogies, this is both over the top and inaccurate in my estimation.
My friend resigned within a few weeks of being hired not wanting to put the agency or the county through unneeded attention and distress. He is the only one in this parade who showed any sense of decency and courage. The newspaper quotes part of his letter of resignation: “I accepted the position believing I could make a contribution to the economic growth and community health of St. Louis County. Unfortunately, my mistakes in judgment nearly twenty years ago have now become political fodder and I fear will distract from the good work of the Economic Council.”
Yes, he had baggage, the reason for the attack. Almost 20 years ago, he diverted some federal housing money to a private account, was caught, and was convicted of a felony. He was not employed by the county’s economic agency when he made this error in judgment, but that is why he ended up resigning from this same post about 14 years ago. He was given a few years of probation and a period of time when he could not contract with the federal government. Those years are now well in the past and his vita since then speaks for itself.
The daily paper here, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, ignored any sense of being fair in reporting the news by having a headline that said: “Felon selected for St. Louis County Economic Council quits after criticism of hire.” “Felon” is such a loaded word. If you read no further, you could imagine all sorts of terrible things this man might have done. Sensationalism to try to sell papers, I think.
So, let’s review this. The white-collar felony was committed almost 20 years ago. It was not committed while he worked for the Economic Council. He pled guilty. He served his probation. He worked for two outstanding commercial developers who knew his background and was successful with each. After a search by an independent firm, he was deemed the best person to fill the job and was hired with the full knowledge of his full background, its successes and failures.
Eliot Spitzer, who resigned after being found with a prostitute, is now the host of a nightly TV program. Anthony Weiner, of sexting fame, is thinking of running for mayor in New York. And I could mention some of the clergy who have sinned but were forgiven. But my friend? Guess not.
In this case, we’re talking about a mistake almost 20 years ago. He has had a clean record and success in commercial real estate since then.
In my opinion, it was mean and politically motivated for the county’s prosecuting attorney to do his song and dance for the media and disgusting how the local daily, once the pride of the country for its journalism, the star of the Pulitzer chain, sank to the depths of the worst of the tabloids in its coverage of these events. For me, they are sullied and vilified by their actions.
There was a public attack on him by the county’s prosecuting attorney who questioned his hiring, asked that he be fired, and said: “the Economic Council's move was akin to the county Health Department hiring a drug addict to buy pharmaceuticals,” according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. While I believe in analogies, this is both over the top and inaccurate in my estimation.
My friend resigned within a few weeks of being hired not wanting to put the agency or the county through unneeded attention and distress. He is the only one in this parade who showed any sense of decency and courage. The newspaper quotes part of his letter of resignation: “I accepted the position believing I could make a contribution to the economic growth and community health of St. Louis County. Unfortunately, my mistakes in judgment nearly twenty years ago have now become political fodder and I fear will distract from the good work of the Economic Council.”
Yes, he had baggage, the reason for the attack. Almost 20 years ago, he diverted some federal housing money to a private account, was caught, and was convicted of a felony. He was not employed by the county’s economic agency when he made this error in judgment, but that is why he ended up resigning from this same post about 14 years ago. He was given a few years of probation and a period of time when he could not contract with the federal government. Those years are now well in the past and his vita since then speaks for itself.
The daily paper here, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, ignored any sense of being fair in reporting the news by having a headline that said: “Felon selected for St. Louis County Economic Council quits after criticism of hire.” “Felon” is such a loaded word. If you read no further, you could imagine all sorts of terrible things this man might have done. Sensationalism to try to sell papers, I think.
So, let’s review this. The white-collar felony was committed almost 20 years ago. It was not committed while he worked for the Economic Council. He pled guilty. He served his probation. He worked for two outstanding commercial developers who knew his background and was successful with each. After a search by an independent firm, he was deemed the best person to fill the job and was hired with the full knowledge of his full background, its successes and failures.
Eliot Spitzer, who resigned after being found with a prostitute, is now the host of a nightly TV program. Anthony Weiner, of sexting fame, is thinking of running for mayor in New York. And I could mention some of the clergy who have sinned but were forgiven. But my friend? Guess not.
In this case, we’re talking about a mistake almost 20 years ago. He has had a clean record and success in commercial real estate since then.
In my opinion, it was mean and politically motivated for the county’s prosecuting attorney to do his song and dance for the media and disgusting how the local daily, once the pride of the country for its journalism, the star of the Pulitzer chain, sank to the depths of the worst of the tabloids in its coverage of these events. For me, they are sullied and vilified by their actions.
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