Lawrence city officials have announced they intend to use a consultant or search firm to help them identify candidates to become Lawrence’s next city manager. As might be expected, these city officials are quick to say they are looking for the best possible individual to fill the City Hall post and that they intend to have a nationwide search.

City commissioners need to decide among themselves what kind of person they are seeking. It would seem reasonable they might visit with some past city commissioners to get their opinions on strengths and weaknesses that appear to have helped or handicapped past city managers. These observations, along with the expectations of current commissioners and any particular or peculiar circumstances facing the city today, all should be well in mind when visiting with those being considered for the consultant/search job.

To do the best job, members of the search firm need to know everything they can about the city, its history with city managers, challenges the city faces and current commissioners’ ability, personality, knowledge, skill, desire and commitment to good government. Consultants need to know these things to find candidates they think would be a good fit for Lawrence.

Each city has a particular profile or personality, and every city manager won’t necessarily fit every city. As an aside, it would be interesting to know how a professional consultant/search firm views or assesses Lawrence attractiveness to excellent city manager prospects.

Although nothing has been said about Kansas University’s department of public administration, it would seem wise for Lawrence officials, along with representatives of the search firm, to use the expertise of those at KU in the search/hiring process. This department is considered one of the best in the country, and it is likely there are more graduates of this program serving in city manager positions across the country than from any other university.

So often, it is easy to consider a consultant from far away more talented than someone nearby. Surely, the folks at KU have good ideas and knowledge of today’s city manager scene, and it would be a mistake not to seek their insight.

There are many questions to answer. Is it better to go outside for the next city manager after the 36-year combined tenure of Buford Watson and Mike Wildgen? Or are there sound reasons to continue to promote from within? Does Lawrence offer a competitive salary to attract good candidates? What about the history of the City Commission and others within City Hall? Have they been easy or difficult to work with? Have highly partisan/selfish interests that make city government difficult been put aside? Or is there a healthy open-mindedness in City Hall? How about the future of Lawrence? Would this be a good post for an aspiring city manager to seek because he or she could make a good name for themselves in Lawrence?

Are college towns good or bad places for city managers? University towns present certain situations not found in non-university towns such as so much land being off the city’s tax rolls. Universities require certain services such as multi-story firefighting equipment and other services not necessarily found in other cities of similar size.

How does the suggestion that the city change its form of government to a partisan, politically motivated elected-mayor system change the situation? And what about the wild idea that a city group should be given authority to approve what kinds and how many retail stores will be allowed in the city?

Lawrence has many attractions, but it also has more than its share of questionable, negative and divisive factions.

It is hoped Lawrence will end up hiring from among the best possible candidates. There is no reason Lawrence should settle for second best or a compromise candidate.

Why not have Lawrence earn and deserve the recognition of having the best city manager of any university city in the country?