qualified because we said so

[kalakoa]

http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/news/loca...ified-post

Surprised? No. Disappointed? Very.

[snorkle]

I've been successfully sarcastic for decades, but don't have a degree in it.

Does that make me less qualified than someone with a degree in sarcasm who has no practical experience?

How can we be sure she can run the Department? Well other than her experience running the Department, I guess we can't.

The problem isn't Bobby Jean. The problem is the inexperienced lawmaker's ommission of the phrase; "OR equivalent experience"

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

the charter’s requirement that the Environmental Management director hold “an engineering degree or a degree in a related field.” Leithead Todd, an attorney, holds a bachelor’s degree in English.
...
Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd can keep the position she has held for the past three years.

Who says all the good Big Island jobs are taken by off-island smarty pants who attend college to become experts in their field? If you've taken a class in 19th century American literature, The County of Hawaii will be happy to offer you on-the-job training in Environmental Science, and pay you a full salary too!

[kalakoa]

lawmaker's ommission of the phrase

Exactly: according to the law as currently written, Leithead Todd is not qualified to hold the position.

Because "rules and laws are for everyone", right?

[Chunkster]

So the good old boys (and girls) own the judges, too? Nothing ever gets any better around here.

[james weatherford]

Having done the job before and being in the job now, does not make one qualified.
Has the job been done well?
With respect for the substantial admirable qualities of the individual involved, the County's progress in Environmental Management has not been so great under her administration.
Would / could an engineer or someone with equivalent training have done better? We may never know.

[opihikao]

With due respect to all, Ms. Leithead-Todd is a woman of substance on her own volition, comes from a very good family, and has done her best, given the hand dealt. She has cleaned up so many messes left by several Mayors (yes, all the way back to Yamashiro through the one we have today with a Pcard...Ugh.).

What was expected out of this case? (Rhetoric)

None of us are perfect, we all have faults, as does Brenda Ford. Lest we judge until we walk in their shoes.

All this cost was more taxpayer (ours) dollars. SMH.


JMO.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

opihikao,
I don't think anyone is questioning Leithead-Todd as a human being.
It's that she was hired as an engineer without engineering qualifications. There are engineers on island, so even if an Environmental Engineer is not available, I'm sure the county could find a mechanical, structural, or even electrical engineer to fill the position. All of which would be far more capable than an English major for that position.

[leilanidude]

All of which would be far more capable than an English major for that position.

That's conjecture. Do we really know that?

[snorkle]

She is not in an engineer; she's in an administrative and managerial post. She manages engineers. She's done it before. She's done it well.

Please list specific complaints about how she's mismanaged the department....