Winston-Salem City Manager’s Position

Normally the hiring or firing of a City Manager does not have much impact on the citizens of a City. After all, the City Manager is just a Manager or Chief Executive Officer hired to carry out the wishes and desires of the governing body. In Winston-Salem, North Carolina the governing body is the City Council and City Manager. Some people seem to think that we need someone from outside of the City. Others say we have good people already part of City Government. Each opinion has its Pros and Cons.

If someone from the outside is hired, how will we really know what to expect? How long will it take for this individual to become successful in carrying out their responsibilities and being accepted by the people working under them? For an outsider to be successful, major changes have to be made and may require bring in his own people or staff he feels will make his job easier and make him successful.

If we choose from inside the present structure and personnel, all we get is a continuation of the policies and altitudes of the current administration. Can the African American Community take another twenty-five years of a very powerful City Manager? How long are we to be on the outside looking in? Why must African American Leadership demand a place at the table when decisions are make instead of being a integral part and primary participants in helping to govern the City?

It makes no different whether the candidates comes from outside or inside, the plight of the African American and other minority populations remain the same. As long as there is a weak City Council, the only full participation for African Americans is in paying property taxes. If there was a strong City Governing Body, the City Manager’s Position would just be a reflection of the City Council’s will. With this City Council, the City Manager’s Position is an unelected Ruler. While the City Manager is not elected, this position is the most powerful position in City Government. The City Council often hides behind the statement that we operate under a Council-Manager form of Government. Is it legal to have unelected and unaccountable people governing the citizens of Winston-Salem, North Carolina? How much power does a ruler have who was not voted into office and cannot be fired by the people he rules? Is this truly an American Form of Government when the people cannot do anything about a person governing them? If this is really the form of government we want, the City Manager should be elected every four years by the people he rules.