Photo by Daniel J. Chacon
No supplemental budget appropriation will be necessary to hire a new communications specialist for the City Council.
Council Administrator Aimee Cox said the council had approved funding in the 2012 budget to increase a part-time intergovernmental affairs position held by Tim Burke to a full-time position so he could help with communications.
But the plan didn’t work out, Cox said.
“During the legislative session, Tim works full-time on state bill review and basically he couldn’t provide the necessary level of communications assistance between January and May,” she said.
Cox said the council will continue to work with the mayor’s Communications Department but “needed someone internally” to help work on council speaking points for events, public engagement strategy and organizing town hall meetings.
“We needed additional assistance here to do the work of City Council, and (Chief Communications Officer) Cindy Aubrey’s office could not provide all of that assistance. But we still will work with her on press releases, budget hearings, those kinds of things,” Cox said.
Cox said she hopes to have the position filled by June 1.
It’s a ridiculous misuse of money, and nothing but an ego-stroking indulgence, for the following reasons. One, this media market isn’t large enough to justify a council-specific press secretary. Any member of council can have easy and direct access to media people, virtually at will, simply by dialing a phone, sending an email or walking across the room at a council meeting. And two, city council doesn’t and shouldn’t speak in a unified voice, so for whom will this person work? This person will work not for the entire council, but for whatever faction temporarily controls the message that group wants to put out. Finally, most of the negative press coverage certain members of this council receive, they receive because they say or do things that average people find strange, silly or objectionable, and that’s not something a full-time professional word-spinner can fix for them. I say this not just as a former council member, but as a former press secretary.
Sean, I repeat myself from earlier, this is ridiculous; Wanted, spin-mister must be able to twist the truth and communicate while speaking in circles effectively, must be able to stand the taste of shoe leather when Council puts foot into mouth and explain that it taste like a fine steak! Qualified, Honest, straight-forward, truthful people need not apply, previous experience with the Clinton/Obama administration is preferred, APPLY TODAY!
You mean the existing 5 people couldn’t handle being Steve Bach’s mouthpiece when he gets backed in a corner?
Who elects a chief executive who can’t communicate? You did, Colorado Springs. Thanks, ruling party.
Again…more servants for the mayor and council, less service for the people. Not surprising for a strong mayor system. It’s what you get with that form of government, no matter who the mayor and council are or what city they’re in. Who’s responsible for this mess?