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Letter to the editor

Military experience will help new manager

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published July 19, 2007

Like Clearwater, Largo now has a retired military officer at the helm of government as city manager. ¶ Clearwater City Manager Bill Horne retired from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of colonel after serving 26 years.

He was hired by the city in 1998 to manage a single department, but quickly rose to assistant city manager and interim manager, no doubt on the strength of leadership skills honed in the military. In 2001, with only three years of city government experience, Horne was named Clearwater city manager.

Largo's new manager, Norton "Mac" Craig, has an advantage over Horne in that regard. Craig has seven years of experience in city government, having been hired by Largo in 2000 as environmental services director and then promoted to assistant city manager in 2004. Craig retired from the U.S. Army in 1987 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He spent 29 years in the Army, primarily in the chemical corps.

Craig has had time to learn that there are important differences between the military and city government. A successful leader in city government must have an inclusive style, inspiring creative thinking, trust and confidence in both the city staff and the public. Yet he must also be confident enough to set down the rules, resist political pressure, and articulate a vision for the community. It is a complex job.

Craig's task is even more challenging because of the upheaval that preceded his promotion to manager. Craig replaced Steve Stanton, who was fired by the City Commission after revealing his plans to become a woman. That announcement and Stanton's subsequent firing became a national news story. The city staff, some of whom had long been unhappy with Stanton's tough management style, divided over the issue of Stanton's gender change.

Could there be a more difficult situation in which to take the reins of city government? Craig will need all the leadership skills he gained in the military, and all the wisdom he accrued during 70 years of living, to restore focus and confidence among city staffers.

Ironically, Craig will benefit from having an exceptional staff built by Stanton. Stanton insisted on having the best talent he could recruit; the resulting increase in professionalism has been apparent at many levels of city government.

Craig has so far seemed to focus on relieving the tension that had roiled City Hall for months, putting his easy-going, Southern gentleman persona to good purpose.

He is meeting with all city workers to let them get to know him better and understand the way he likes to work.

He also will need to do a tour of civic groups and homeowners associations so residents can get to know him as well and can share their own visions for the city.

Many city employees already know Craig from his three years as assistant city manager and may expect him to remain the same, but the role is different for a city manager.

As assistant city manager, Craig carried out Stanton's dictates. As city manager, Craig will be making policy, setting the tone, presenting the vision.

Craig may like being a nice guy, but he will have to demonstrate the toughness required to make difficult decisions on public issues and mete out employee discipline as appropriate.

His military background may come in handy.

Everyone will be watching to see how he does.

[Last modified July 18, 2007, 22:16:02]