Saying something is “political” isn’t usually a compliment in today’s society. In fact, it tends to raise the specter of red-blue philosophical divisions that have been squeezing out collegial statesmanship at all levels of American government.

The “politics” card was played here last week, after Lawrence Mayor Boog Highberger announced his appointment to the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission. A former mayor, Ernie Angino, had completed one term on the planning board and was eligible and willing to serve a second. Although such reappointments have been considered somewhat traditional, Highberger decided to “make his mark” on the Planning Commission by replacing Angino with Lisa Harris, a publications editor with the KU Transportation Center who also has a planning background.

There are no set qualifications for planning commissioners and there’s no reason to think Harris won’t serve that body well, but Highberger’s decision drew a somewhat pointed response from Angino:

“I think the Planning Commission has become a tool of the City Commission : My views are not in line with their desire to have a rubber-stamp board.”

It also raised questions by other Lawrence residents about whether the Planning Commission was becoming too political, too easily swayed by the political agendas of those making the appointments – the current mayor and County Commission chairman.

After making the appointment, Highberger said, “The Planning Commission is one of the few areas that the mayor has his opportunity to make his mark, and I felt like I wanted to take advantage of that.” Was he trying to sway the planning body with his appointment? Maybe. If so he surely wouldn’t have been the first to do so.

On the other hand, it’s hard for any single mayor or County Commission chairman to have a huge impact on the Planning Commission. This likely is the only appointment Highberger will make to that body. It’s also interesting that, although the Planning Commission is viewed as an extremely powerful public board, almost all of its decisions are only recommendations to the city or county commissions. That’s where the politics really come into play.

One of Angino’s strengths as a planning commissioner was his willingness to speak his mind and raise issues. We would like to think that everyone who serves in both appointed and elected positions in local government would have the ability and courage to exercise his or her independence and examine issues with an open mind. Angino served with distinction as a city commissioner and mayor and did his homework on all issues that came before him on the City Commission as well as the Planning Commission.

When people talk about the Planning Commission becoming too political, they probably really are concerned that too many of its members are coming to the board with a predetermined agenda or approach to planning issues. We want people who are committed to listening to all sides and making decisions that benefit the city and county as a whole. In the polarized climate that has invaded our federal government, as well as our state Legislature, we worry about losing the deliberation and judgment of the people in the middle.

Is the Planning Commission too political? It’s natural for mayors and commission chairmen to appoint people they trust and respect as individuals to various public boards. Let’s just hope they also choose to appoint people who are smart, independent and evenhanded, and not beholden to a predetermined agenda.