Wednesday, January 05, 2000
Mayor bows out as candidate for recreation job
BY JANE PRENDERGAST and CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Mayor Denny Bowman took himself out of the running Tuesday for the recreation director's job, apparently because he was upset about implications that the selection had become politicized.
With Mr. Bowman out of contention, the underlying controversy — who would take over as mayor — is moot.
If the mayor had been hired, he would have had to resign as mayor and his colleagues on the City Commission would have had to choose from among their ranks a new leader. That vote could have sharply divided the commission, given that Commissioner Butch Callery has already announced that he's run ning for mayor and Commissioners Jim Eggemeier and Jerry Bamberger have said they might.
Mr. Bowman, whose term expires in January, cannot run again.
The mayor could not be reached for comment late Tuesday. Mr. Bamberger said he had planned to support the mayor when the commissioners voted but he did not know whether there was a consensus among the other commissioners. He asked the mayor to reconsider, he said, but he wouldn't.
“He had a tremendous interview,” Mr. Bamberger said.
“He had a lot of good ideas, and I'd hoped he'd have the opportunity to implement them.”
Mr. Bowman's departure from the candidates' list leaves two others — acting Director David Buerger and a woman who asked that her name not be made public. The job will pay $45,000 to $50,000.
The new director will replace Chod Hobbs, who resigned in October amid an investigation into undescribed misconduct.
Commissioner J.T. Spence said he was surprised by Mr. Bowman's deci sion. Mr. Bamberger said he thinks the process should be opened again so the mayor, who had not been involved in discussions because he was a candidate, can take part in interviews this time.
City Manager Greg Jarvis said if the commissioners can't agree on which of the remaining two they want to hire, the process will have to be reopened for new applicants.
Mr. Bamberger also defended his colleagues on the allegation that the process had become too political.
“I listened to the candidates,” he said. “I had nothing to gain or lose if Denny had been appointed.”
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