Leadership change needed at top

Published 2:07 pm Friday, September 25, 2009

It takes only a short look to see that Monroe is in a sad state of affairs. As a Monroe resident I see Mayor Donnetta Walser, a nice lady, but a weak, weak sister in leadership.

The police chief grumbles about not having compensation he is “owed” after a closed-door agreement? Look at the facts — several very experienced, well-respected city employees have chosen to leave Monroe because of the poor management and terrible morale problems. In the past year and a half, the city’s longtime risk manager left, refusing even to consider a pay increase to keep her there, the human resources director left, a number of highly skilled and respected police officers, including a sergeant, left. What gives?

I know many of Monroe’s city employees and learned that the police have had more internal investigations, almost twice as many as Everett’s police, in a year. Either the police are really bad or the department is so poorly managed that they have to rule with an iron fist. Meanwhile, the chief needs a raise while layoffs are looming and furloughs are being mandated. Take a clue from former chief of police Wilson who saw budget cuts at the Port of Seattle and took furlough not once, not twice but over two weeks worth to keep from having to lay off her officers and staff. Of course leading by example would be too much for Monroe’s administration. Time for a change? I’d say so.

Jose Franco

Monroe