Editorials

Let's not rush in to blame

Hernando Today
Published: September 25, 2010

Issue: County Commissioner Jeff Stabins

call for David Hamilton's resignation.

Our opinion: Let the county

administrator do his job.

Stubby Kaye sang in Guys and Dolls, "Sit down, you're rocking the boat."

We suggest that Hernando County Commissioner Jeff Stabins not only sit down, but slow down.

This is hardly the time for recriminations aimed at the county administrator.

You cannot lay the blame for the debacle concerning the dredge of Hernando Beach Channel on the administrator.

This has been a process that has gone on long before David Hamilton arrived on the scene.

This is poor timing, asking the administrator to resign. With all of the issues facing the county, this is a big mistake.

The administrator came to the county about two-and-a-half years ago with an inflated budget, top heavy management and declining revenues.

Obviously, the Board of County Commissioners had no immediate solutions but tasked the administrator with making all these bad things better.

To his credit, Hamilton began to work on the budget issue, which was the No. 1 priority.

The second major issue was too many managers at too high a cost.

He delved into that and reduced the top staff from 15 directors to nine, thereby reducing cost and unnecessary positions.

Several directors were let go, something the BOCC hadn't the will or inclination to do.

So the administrator takes the heat for decisions that board members whispered about but took no direct action on.

Who does Commissioner Stabins have in mind to run the county while a new search is made for a permanent replacement?

Remember, we no longer have Larry Jennings, who twice went into the blocks to maintain order and stability in county government.

If he does have someone in mind, then he has an obligation to the people of Hernando County to name that person.

It is so often said in the business and theatrical world that timing is everything.

Commissioner Stabins: Now is not the time to push out another county administrator.

It's time to take a deep breath, slow down and let our county administrator do his job.