Archive for September 23rd, 2009

Is a dramatic OV council hearing, David Andrews was terminated tonight by a 4-3 vote. After motions, open meeting law violation accusations, recesses and a dramatic call to the audience the Mayor Loomis had the votes to oust the long time town manager David Andrews.  Andrews rose from the finance department to steward the town through 18 years of balanced growth and a high quality of life. Mayor Paul Loomis, KC Carter, Paula Abbott and Al Kunisch voted to terminate and Bill Garner, Salette Latas and Barry Gillaspie voted to retain the town manager.  Abbot strangely eluded to “reasons that shouldn’t be made public” as grounds for termination.

The entire process was highly questionable and not very forthcoming by the majority. I’ve personally had an opportunity to work with and spend considerable time with Andrews and found him to be a true champion for Oro Valley. He’s invested in the community and after 18 years in town management I think the results judge for themselves. 

Here’s one guy that’s happy with tonights vote:

Dr. Hiremath is a candidate for Mayor Loomis’ job as Mayor of Oro Valley.  This termination may be the end of Loomis and those on the wrong side of the vote.  Keep and eye on Let Oro Valley Excel which is listed in the blog rolls on Tucson Choices.

Tune in to Wake Up Tucson tomorrow morning at 6am on 1030 am. You’re going to get an earful.

Got a note for Mayor Loomis? Here’s his contact info (520) 229-4700 or ploomis@orovalley.net
 

We ran a blog post here a couple days ago from Oscar Martinez, a tenured professor from the UofA. The gist of the story was the UofA is declining, class sizes have ballooned beyond control and the ship isn’t being steered correctly. He singled out UofA provost, Meredith Hay in particular. As a tenured professor I guess he’s got some job security or at least a lot of confidence in what he’s doing. Here’s the money quote from last weeks editorial:

Provost Meredith Hay, in particular, has become a lightning rod and legions of faculty and administrators would like to see her vacate her post.

Today another opinion comes out in the Star from UofA President, Robert Shelton and none other than - Meredith Hay.  It’s a great cover your tail piece about tough budget times, openness is decision processes and all kinds of fun stuff. Read the article HERE.

We’ve commented on this blog before on the UofA’s ineffectiveness on creating jobs for our local community. They graduate 4000 plus eager young minds per year and we watch them leave our community because of a lack of jobs or economic opportunity.  A university in your town can do a lot more than support a few college bars and wreck havoc with neighborhood infill developments. Take a look at Univ of Texas - Austin or the research triangle with North Carolina and Duke and you can see how powerful a force a good university can be in your local community.

I guess Shelton and Hay tried to make the leap that they are going their part to make Arizona a better place:

• Second, which units have the greatest outreach and impact on the citizens of our state? Our mission to serve the entire state and support its citizens is of the utmost importance during the financial crisis.

• And third, which units will most likely have a positive economic impact on the state, with an emphasis on job creation and growth? If the state of Arizona is to recover and stabilize its own revenues, then the university has a duty to protect and invest in those areas where the university has the greatest impact on job and business growth.