The board of Island Transit needed to find someone with an unblemished history to lead the beleaguered agency, even if only on an interim basis.
IT needed someone who can bring the community together, someone who is accountable, someone who will effectively communicate what is happening inside taxpayer-funded agency.
Instead, the IT board met behind closed doors and chose a candidate for interim director who resigned from Community Transit in Snohomish County under the cloud of a bribery scandal 20 years ago.
Kenneth Graska wasn’t indicted, but a state audit report faulted his management style as autocratic and authoritarian.
Negotiations are underway, and the board may accept a contract Friday.
Graska may be a capable, qualified candidate. Coupeville Councilman Bob Clay, the chairman of the transit board, said Graska was open about his history and satisfied the board’s concerns.
Graska, he said, is a great guy.
Problem is, the public didn’t get a chance to hear Graska’s explanation, and the board’s subsequent discussion, because it was all done in secret.
Executive sessions to discuss candidates for public employment are allowed under the Open Public Meetings Act, but the board members had the option of allowing in the public.
Involving the public is a demonstration of trust and respect of public opinion. Former Oak Harbor Mayor Jim Slowik, for example, held interviews for police chief in view of the public.
The IT board also didn’t release the name of the candidates, not even to IT board member Scott Dudley, until the day before the interviews. Dudley’s request — and the Whidbey News-Times’ request — for copies of the three candidates’ resumes were denied.
Again, the board didn’t have to release them, but they could have. Other agencies simply alert candidates ahead of time that their applications will be made public.
The Everett Herald’s coverage of Graska from 1993 paint a concerning picture of his leadership style. One article reported he was angry at the newspaper for its coverage and insisted that the news of his resignation be released to other media besides The Herald.
Not exactly being open and accountable.
IT’s board of directors blew it on this one. If there was to be any hope of rebuilding public trust in their leadership and abilities, the board members neither took it seriously, nor did they demonstrate any concern for public opinion.
Pitiful and disgraceful.
Graska didn’t return a call for comment.
