McGinn Hires Sierra Club Leader to Oversee Budget Process

This is a danger sign of whats to come (if there were not enough already)

This is a danger sign of whats to come (if there were not enough already)

well it’d be nice to know …. what size budget did he oversee at what was it, some local nonprofit with 10 employees? did he ever oversee a budget before? what’s his age? what’s his other jobs? what’s his education and what’s he say upon taking this new gig?

You know, reporting facts ‘n’ stuff.

well it’d be nice to know …. what size budget did he oversee at what was it, some local nonprofit with 10 employees? did he ever oversee a budget before? what’s his age? what’s his other jobs? what’s his education and what’s he say upon taking this new gig?

You know, reporting facts ‘n’ stuff.

I met Craig at an event. He is a nice guy and I think he used to work for Cascade Land. But I would like to know his business and budget skills outside of say quicken entries.

Craig is a smart guy, but he has no business or financial background. His degree is in public policy.

Craig is a smart guy, but he has no business or financial background. His degree is in public policy.

Craig is SHARP. The city is lucky to have him (again – he worked for the city previously). He’s personable and diligent and is going to do a kickass job. Sucks for the Sierra Club.

Craig is SHARP. The city is lucky to have him (again – he worked for the city previously). He’s personable and diligent and is going to do a kickass job. Sucks for the Sierra Club.

Let’s see, he fires, no reassigns Dwight Dively the former award winning budget director then appoints yet another person to oversee the budget process? MikeBike now needs 3 deputy mayors when his predecessors only needed one and now his budget needs 2 heads instead of one. High paying positions are multiplying like rabbits on the 7th floor of City Hall. Guess we now know why he wants to get rid of so many city workers….he needs the office space for all the duplicate hires he’s planning to make. This is just so much blatant patronage. Disgusting display of ineptness from someone who’s only “real” job is the spokesperson for endless position papers.

Let’s see, he fires, no reassigns Dwight Dively the former award winning budget director then appoints yet another person to oversee the budget process? MikeBike now needs 3 deputy mayors when his predecessors only needed one and now his budget needs 2 heads instead of one. High paying positions are multiplying like rabbits on the 7th floor of City Hall. Guess we now know why he wants to get rid of so many city workers….he needs the office space for all the duplicate hires he’s planning to make. This is just so much blatant patronage. Disgusting display of ineptness from someone who’s only “real” job is the spokesperson for endless position papers.

We had this debate about politics versus competence during the primary. Of course in the realm of Seattle politics, once people pass the litmus test of basic liberalism, we are talking about ‘how’ and ‘how competent’. Choosing sides based on hardcore ‘magical’ ideologies seemed to win out over asking basic questions of competence.

I think Obama laid out pretty clearly what is needed, and reiterated it the other night. Did the people of Seattle even ‘get it’? Nope, the people of Seattle are getting a cabal that will take us down the drain or sell us out to the highest bidder.

We had this debate about politics versus competence during the primary. Of course in the realm of Seattle politics, once people pass the litmus test of basic liberalism, we are talking about ‘how’ and ‘how competent’. Choosing sides based on hardcore ‘magical’ ideologies seemed to win out over asking basic questions of competence.

I think Obama laid out pretty clearly what is needed, and reiterated it the other night. Did the people of Seattle even ‘get it’? Nope, the people of Seattle are getting a cabal that will take us down the drain or sell us out to the highest bidder.

“No Comment” as is “I cannot confirm or deny that we are hiring this guy to run the budget?”

How is this different than Beth Goldberg, who in the words of Publicola on December 11th, “will head up the actual budget process”? Good thing we are cutting unnecessary duplication in city government.

It’s nice that the “Meet the Team” page for the Mayor’s office at seattle.gov is still blank. Maybe we could get some of Bushnell’s wedding pictures put up there, or at least a link to the Mercury Group, as an interim step.

Thanks Kathryn for your excellent point! Those who voted without asking the basic competency questions deserve to be sold out. Too bad that the innocent will also suffer the stupidities of the current administration. Voter remorse was mentioned prominently the day after the election and the remorse seems to grow every time the mayor opens his mouth.

“No Comment” as is “I cannot confirm or deny that we are hiring this guy to run the budget?”

How is this different than Beth Goldberg, who in the words of Publicola on December 11th, “will head up the actual budget process”? Good thing we are cutting unnecessary duplication in city government.

It’s nice that the “Meet the Team” page for the Mayor’s office at seattle.gov is still blank. Maybe we could get some of Bushnell’s wedding pictures put up there, or at least a link to the Mercury Group, as an interim step.

Thanks Kathryn for your excellent point! Those who voted without asking the basic competency questions deserve to be sold out. Too bad that the innocent will also suffer the stupidities of the current administration. Voter remorse was mentioned prominently the day after the election and the remorse seems to grow every time the mayor opens his mouth.

The process person makes sure the document is formatted correctly and ensures the departments are submitting the right documents — it is all process and no policy. High paid administrative assistant.

The process person makes sure the document is formatted correctly and ensures the departments are submitting the right documents — it is all process and no policy. High paid administrative assistant.

OK – another guy and Sierra Club crony for McGinn.

@good grief – probably just a link to the Sierra Club staff list on the Mayor’s “meet the team” page will suffice.

Is local Sierra Club in fiscal dire straits? New CEO nationally. National group have big layoffs and cutbacks too.

But the Mayor will take care of his boys!

OK – another guy and Sierra Club crony for McGinn.

@good grief – probably just a link to the Sierra Club staff list on the Mayor’s “meet the team” page will suffice.

Is local Sierra Club in fiscal dire straits? New CEO nationally. National group have big layoffs and cutbacks too.

But the Mayor will take care of his boys!

Looks like a lot of people jumping to a lot of uninformed conclusions based on incomplete reporting. Hold your fire until the complete story is in. Ms. Barnett, you have your work cut out for you.

Looks like a lot of people jumping to a lot of uninformed conclusions based on incomplete reporting. Hold your fire until the complete story is in. Ms. Barnett, you have your work cut out for you.

McGinn obviously hasn’t read Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.

Take a cue from Obama, Mikie. Read the book. You are an embarrassingly narrow minded little man.

McGinn obviously hasn’t read Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.

Take a cue from Obama, Mikie. Read the book. You are an embarrassingly narrow minded little man.

Craig is very sharp and Beth Goldberg is very fortunate to have him. This is someone who will make sure the trains run on time. He is an Evans School alum after all, trained in public finance by none other than Dwight Dively.

Craig is very sharp and Beth Goldberg is very fortunate to have him. This is someone who will make sure the trains run on time. He is an Evans School alum after all, trained in public finance by none other than Dwight Dively.

Someone of Michael Mann’s knowledge and stature leaves. And this guy is now in charge of the City Budget. And he has no prior experience.

Someone of Michael Mann’s knowledge and stature leaves. And this guy is now in charge of the City Budget. And he has no prior experience.

It’s awful inconsiderate of him to hire his own friends right before laying off mine. Everything McGinn has done so far looks bad at first blush, and then doesn’t really ever get explained adequately.

It’s awful inconsiderate of him to hire his own friends right before laying off mine. Everything McGinn has done so far looks bad at first blush, and then doesn’t really ever get explained adequately.

Don’t worry, this guy is not there to coordinate the budget as much as be a “plumber”. I hear G. Man Liddy was not available, which is too bad, because he does good work and would be a real asset to any city that is run as a party machine.

Don’t worry, this guy is not there to coordinate the budget as much as be a “plumber”. I hear G. Man Liddy was not available, which is too bad, because he does good work and would be a real asset to any city that is run as a party machine.

Hey Jane — I don’t really get your point — both of these postions/individuals have been described as being responsible for “budget process”. Maybe the descriptions have been inadequate, but they sound (virtually) identical, and since the spokesperson is refusing to comment, apparently nobody is going to explain the difference.

Hey Jane — I don’t really get your point — both of these postions/individuals have been described as being responsible for “budget process”. Maybe the descriptions have been inadequate, but they sound (virtually) identical, and since the spokesperson is refusing to comment, apparently nobody is going to explain the difference.

I am starting to think that if you look up the definition of “cronyism” in the dictionary you will find McGinn’s name. I’m sure this latest Sierra Club person is nice enough but find it hard to believe he knows anything about the city’s budget process. Would it kill McGinn to run a competitive hiring process so he could find someone qualified ? Apparently yes it would.

I am starting to think that if you look up the definition of “cronyism” in the dictionary you will find McGinn’s name. I’m sure this latest Sierra Club person is nice enough but find it hard to believe he knows anything about the city’s budget process. Would it kill McGinn to run a competitive hiring process so he could find someone qualified ? Apparently yes it would.

And has anyone noticed how often Mark Matassa has to respond “No Comment”? Makes the Mayor’s Office look pretty disorganized.

And has anyone noticed how often Mark Matassa has to respond “No Comment”? Makes the Mayor’s Office look pretty disorganized.

Baker, you bring up a very valid point…McGinn claims he needs to get rid of current senior staff because he (wrongly) believed they were all Nickels’ political appointees and weren’t hired through a competitive process (which I would guess 90% were, the exceptions being OPM and the previous mayor’s office staff). And then he fills every vacated position, or just creates a new one (another person to oversee the budget process? I thought Beth Goldberg was supposed to be handling that?), with friends from Great City/Sierra Club and campaign groupies, without any competitive hiring process and in many of the cases, as far as anyone can tell, not much relevant experience. I too am wondering if the “meet the team” page on the mayor’s site will ever have any details on these people…or maybe there just aren’t any details to share.

Baker, you bring up a very valid point…McGinn claims he needs to get rid of current senior staff because he (wrongly) believed they were all Nickels’ political appointees and weren’t hired through a competitive process (which I would guess 90% were, the exceptions being OPM and the previous mayor’s office staff). And then he fills every vacated position, or just creates a new one (another person to oversee the budget process? I thought Beth Goldberg was supposed to be handling that?), with friends from Great City/Sierra Club and campaign groupies, without any competitive hiring process and in many of the cases, as far as anyone can tell, not much relevant experience. I too am wondering if the “meet the team” page on the mayor’s site will ever have any details on these people…or maybe there just aren’t any details to share.

Hey Erica — I’m a fan, but you kind of screwed up this one. Or rather, Mr. Benjamin did, and by running the e-mail without confirmation, you aided and abetted the error.

The job is not as he described it. And the misunderstanding caused some tears and rending of fabric on 6.

Please retract and start over.

And please ask yourself whether this news (a low-level appointment) really required quick, as opposed to thorough, reporting.

Hey Erica — I’m a fan, but you kind of screwed up this one. Or rather, Mr. Benjamin did, and by running the e-mail without confirmation, you aided and abetted the error.

The job is not as he described it. And the misunderstanding caused some tears and rending of fabric on 6.

Please retract and start over.

And please ask yourself whether this news (a low-level appointment) really required quick, as opposed to thorough, reporting.

Speaking of budget office — hey Publicola follow a email bouncing around that Beth sent to her buddy’s at the county. Word is that its going viral at the watercooler.

Speaking of budget office — hey Publicola follow a email bouncing around that Beth sent to her buddy’s at the county. Word is that its going viral at the watercooler.

good call McGinn…get a guy who has no gov’t budget experience in charge of determining how to manage a budget in a recession. At least Beth Goldberg has gov’t experience. Nice job…can hardly wait for Seattle’s bond rating to take a dive. Great Job Mr. Mayor.

good call McGinn…get a guy who has no gov’t budget experience in charge of determining how to manage a budget in a recession. At least Beth Goldberg has gov’t experience. Nice job…can hardly wait for Seattle’s bond rating to take a dive. Great Job Mr. Mayor.

Hey Disappointed – from the article, it appears that Erica Barnett contacted Mark Matassa from the Mayor’s Office to get confirmation and could only get a “no comment.” Blame for this falls solely on the Mayor’s Office for not coordinating with Craig Benjamin, not notifying the staff in the Budget Office ahead of time, and then not being prepared to respond to reporter questions. The Mayor’s Office is starting to look pretty sloppy.

And this is off topic – but Publicola, could you please go back to numbering the comments? thank you.

Hey Disappointed – from the article, it appears that Erica Barnett contacted Mark Matassa from the Mayor’s Office to get confirmation and could only get a “no comment.” Blame for this falls solely on the Mayor’s Office for not coordinating with Craig Benjamin, not notifying the staff in the Budget Office ahead of time, and then not being prepared to respond to reporter questions. The Mayor’s Office is starting to look pretty sloppy.

And this is off topic – but Publicola, could you please go back to numbering the comments? thank you.

Craig Benjamin was an intern at OPM working with Marshall Foster.
To reinforce Baker’s point – from an article on the White Center annexation in the Seattle Times: “Calls to McGinn’s office for comment were not returned Wednesday.”

Craig Benjamin was an intern at OPM working with Marshall Foster.
To reinforce Baker’s point – from an article on the White Center annexation in the Seattle Times: “Calls to McGinn’s office for comment were not returned Wednesday.”

McGinn is hiring his mother’s former hairdresser to be Director of City Light because she is used to using electricity. Plus, she’s really good at interpreting his dreams.

And Parks is going to be headed up by that lady who used to run the flower shop up at 87th and Greenwood. They used to watch “One Life to Live” together.

It’s just like Mayberry…..

McGinn is hiring his mother’s former hairdresser to be Director of City Light because she is used to using electricity. Plus, she’s really good at interpreting his dreams.

And Parks is going to be headed up by that lady who used to run the flower shop up at 87th and Greenwood. They used to watch “One Life to Live” together.

It’s just like Mayberry…..

I worked in the City in a variety of management positions, including a long stint in the budget office during tough financial times. I don’t care how smart some of McGinn’s people are, in tough times you need people who know how the City works to help you make good budget decisions. Kicking Dwight Dively to the curb doesn’t make any sense at all. So far, I’ve seen no evidence that McGinn is going to be anything other than a feeble, one term mayor.

I worked in the City in a variety of management positions, including a long stint in the budget office during tough financial times. I don’t care how smart some of McGinn’s people are, in tough times you need people who know how the City works to help you make good budget decisions. Kicking Dwight Dively to the curb doesn’t make any sense at all. So far, I’ve seen no evidence that McGinn is going to be anything other than a feeble, one term mayor.

Hey Fred. I agree with you, but the Publicola rumor-reaction loop is getting pretty ridiculous, even for fans like me. And some very dedicated people were seriously upset by this, so we all need to chill, because reacting to erroneous information all the time is getting pretty stupid, and tiring, and dispiriting.

Hey Fred. I agree with you, but the Publicola rumor-reaction loop is getting pretty ridiculous, even for fans like me. And some very dedicated people were seriously upset by this, so we all need to chill, because reacting to erroneous information all the time is getting pretty stupid, and tiring, and dispiriting.

I had the opportunity to get to know Craig Benjamin for the last a few months. He is smart,energetic and capable person.
I truly think he deserves.

I had the opportunity to get to know Craig Benjamin for the last a few months. He is smart,energetic and capable person.
I truly think he deserves.

You guys cool down. experience experience!!!. people don’t born with experience, is something you learn. Is all about how much effort you put into.

You guys cool down. experience experience!!!. people don’t born with experience, is something you learn. Is all about how much effort you put into.

Ok, maybe Craig’s a nice guy. Maybe he’s even smart. The guy’s got a degree in public policy, so why is he in the budget office coordinating the budget document. No policy work, just administrative. McGinn should have put him on his staff as he sounds like a policy wonk, not a budget guy. Let Beth do her job and hire who she thinks she needs.

Ok, maybe Craig’s a nice guy. Maybe he’s even smart. The guy’s got a degree in public policy, so why is he in the budget office coordinating the budget document. No policy work, just administrative. McGinn should have put him on his staff as he sounds like a policy wonk, not a budget guy. Let Beth do her job and hire who she thinks she needs.

Let’s stay on focus: this isn’t a knock on Craig Benjamin . . . the knock is that McGinn made this ridiculous campaign claim that Nickels had filled the city with political appointments – then the Mayor comes in and announces he’s going to cut 200 some positions without articulating what, exactly was the policy objective (that discussion has been had on other posts)

The issue here is that McGinn is spitting in the eye of the workforce. Throughout the City, hiring processes have been stopped, job offers have been rescinded, people are trying to figure out how to get work done anticipating job cuts – but McGinn gets to continue to hire his friends.

It’s the hypocrisy, stupid.

Let’s stay on focus: this isn’t a knock on Craig Benjamin . . . the knock is that McGinn made this ridiculous campaign claim that Nickels had filled the city with political appointments – then the Mayor comes in and announces he’s going to cut 200 some positions without articulating what, exactly was the policy objective (that discussion has been had on other posts)

The issue here is that McGinn is spitting in the eye of the workforce. Throughout the City, hiring processes have been stopped, job offers have been rescinded, people are trying to figure out how to get work done anticipating job cuts – but McGinn gets to continue to hire his friends.

It’s the hypocrisy, stupid.

Mr intern should know the city has a bi-annual budget process. Hope he learns the difference between endorsed & adopted. This move can’t be making council very happy.

The only reassurring thought is that any budget or budget revision requires legislation aka council action. I’m hoping they are gearing up for a long & painful budget process. It would have been easier if the budget staff had City experience & the confidence of council.

It is really important to have competative bidding processes in place for key technical positions. Budget personnel tend to be apolitical.

Budget directors & staff are really appolitical. They follow the direction of the executive & legislative branch.

Mr intern should know the city has a bi-annual budget process. Hope he learns the difference between endorsed & adopted. This move can’t be making council very happy.

The only reassurring thought is that any budget or budget revision requires legislation aka council action. I’m hoping they are gearing up for a long & painful budget process. It would have been easier if the budget staff had City experience & the confidence of council.

It is really important to have competative bidding processes in place for key technical positions. Budget personnel tend to be apolitical.

Budget directors & staff are really appolitical. They follow the direction of the executive & legislative branch.

Well said, Clara!

Well said, Clara!

He graduated from Washington & Lee in 2001, spent 5 yrs skiing in Jackson Hole. Went to UW graduate school 2006 – 2008, was a Mayors Fellow in summer of 2007 and DPD intern in fall of 2007. became Cascade Land Conservancy Chapter Dir. in 2008 and Asst. Budget Director in 2010. Not counting all the turns in his early career, I see a grand total of 2.5 years under his belt

He graduated from Washington & Lee in 2001, spent 5 yrs skiing in Jackson Hole. Went to UW graduate school 2006 – 2008, was a Mayors Fellow in summer of 2007 and DPD intern in fall of 2007. became Cascade Land Conservancy Chapter Dir. in 2008 and Asst. Budget Director in 2010. Not counting all the turns in his early career, I see a grand total of 2.5 years under his belt

Clara is right. As I understand it, this job in the budget office is a fairly technical job (making sure proposed legislation meets Council standards in terms of format, etc.). It’s not a policy job. It is a job where you want someone experienced in the City legislative process. So why didn’t McGinn run a competitive process to fill the position? Why did he fill it with one of his friends who does not appear to have any experience in this area?

Clara is right. As I understand it, this job in the budget office is a fairly technical job (making sure proposed legislation meets Council standards in terms of format, etc.). It’s not a policy job. It is a job where you want someone experienced in the City legislative process. So why didn’t McGinn run a competitive process to fill the position? Why did he fill it with one of his friends who does not appear to have any experience in this area?

Anyone know if McGinn followed the process laid out in his Executive Order for filling the position and then negotiating the salary offer? Sure would be interesting to see the results of a public disclosure request.

Anyone know if McGinn followed the process laid out in his Executive Order for filling the position and then negotiating the salary offer? Sure would be interesting to see the results of a public disclosure request.

There is no competition if your are a McGinn buddy boy…

Next up – two “processes” that have already been decided by the Mayor, despite a “panel of experts and citizens”:

Anne Kirkpatrick for Police Chief (token gal) and Mark Okazaki for Human Services…a guy pal of who again?

Just watch.

There is no competition if your are a McGinn buddy boy…

Next up – two “processes” that have already been decided by the Mayor, despite a “panel of experts and citizens”:

Anne Kirkpatrick for Police Chief (token gal) and Mark Okazaki for Human Services…a guy pal of who again?

Just watch.

Hmmm…he moves Dively out of the budget and then hires Goldberg and 2 others to replace him. Is that how he will solve the budget crisis?

Hmmm…he moves Dively out of the budget and then hires Goldberg and 2 others to replace him. Is that how he will solve the budget crisis?

The gift that keeps on giving

The gift that keeps on giving

A little lazy reporting leads to a long list of speculation and fabrications in the comments page.

Erica, ya’ll have a redressed blog, a few more writers and maybe a friendlier budget. Maybe, it’s time to match this with reporting standards to match. First isn’t always best.

A little lazy reporting leads to a long list of speculation and fabrications in the comments page.

Erica, ya’ll have a redressed blog, a few more writers and maybe a friendlier budget. Maybe, it’s time to match this with reporting standards to match. First isn’t always best.

I met Craig at an event. He is a nice guy and I think he used to work for Cascade Land. But I would like to know his business and budget skills outside of say quicken entries.