December 15, 2005

EDITORIAL

Good pick for Village manager

The process may not have been perfect, but it appears that the Village may have landed a top-rate manager in Eric Swansen, whom Village Council selected as Rob Hillard’s successor. He follows a long line of competent and successful managers who have led the modern day Village government.

Mr. Swansen was offered and accepted the manager’s post over the weekend, after going through a public forum with two other candidates and an interview with Council. He and Council are negotiating a contract, though it should be completed and approved soon. Mr. Swansen said he’s hoping to start his new job in early January.

A resident of Jackson Hole, Wyo., Mr. Swansen has more than 15 years of experience, as well as an educational background in government service, that he can rely on here. He’s been a city manager, in Farmersville, Calif. (though for less than two years), and has served in three analyst positions in different governmental organizations, including a public works department and a community development department.

During his career, he said, he’s worked for “progressively larger communities” to learn to be an “effective generalist.” He said one of his strengths is bringing together people of disparate opinions, which could be important in a place like Yellow Springs, where there are many disparate opinions. Perhaps most important, he wants to be here. He expressed enthusiasm for many aspects of the community, including downtown, biking and hiking trails, and villagers’ interest in participating in public processes, such as the manager’s search. He’s done his research and already has some ideas for the Village.

Before he came to town, he told the News that he and his wife, Shelley, were looking for a small community with a high-quality of life, and he believed Yellow Springs fit that description. After spending a few days in Yellow Springs, he said the community has exceeded his expectations.

Last week, it seemed as if the manager selection process had been bungled and Council was rushing to find a manager, when at the last minute it withdrew an interview offer to one candidate and extended invitations to two other applicants. However, despite its flaws, the process worked.

Of the three candidates who participated in last Friday’s community forum, Mr. Swansen plainly stood out, and Council president Jocelyn Hardman said he was just as impressive in his interview with Council as he was in the forum. She also said that the Village Manager Search Committee ranked him as the top candidate, that he was Council’s clear choice, and that of the three candidates he best matched the community’s values.

Yellow Springers should be excited that a competent, promising manager is ready to lead the Village and this community.

— Robert Mihalek