THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008
New City Manager On Board
By CRAIG ADAMS
Journal Reporter
While stating his first choice withdrew from consideration and blaming the political situation in town, Park Ridge Mayor Howard Frimark appointed James Hock as new city manager during the City Council meeting on Monday, May 5.
"My original intentions were to appoint another person," Frimark said. However, two of the three finalists withdrew from consideration. Frimark said, "...the withdrawal was based upon realization that the political atmosphere of this city was so toxic that the vision that they had formulated for Park Ridge could not be realized. They have read the ugly blogs. They read the newspaper accounts describing the animosities that exist here. They spoke with other managers about a willingness to destroy trust of closed sessions for political purposes."
According to Frimark, Chris Clark, current deputy village manager of Glenview, withdrew after contributors to an Internet blog wrote about him. "The blog attacked his family," Frimark told the Journal yesterday (Tuesday) morning. "He didn't think that was very ethical." Frimark explained he was personal friends with Clark's parents when they resided in Park Ridge. "That particular information was in closed session and somebody gave it to the blog," Frimark added.
Frimark referenced another closed session when an alderman gave confidential memos to members of the press. He said Clark and Brian Murphy, another candidate from Michigan, spoke of that incident as a reason for their withdrawal.
At the meeting, Frimark addressed the blog writers and members of the public "who love attacking me for sport, do not seek to undermine this highly qualified candidate simply because I have appointed him," he said. He also spoke to the council, "I am asking you for unanimous and enthusiastic support."
The council did unanimously approve Hock's appointment. Frimark introduced Hock and his wife Julie to the assemblage. Hock thanked Frimark and the aldermen for their support.
"I look forward to working with members of the city staff," he said. He also praised the "fine reputation" of Park Ridge. "I look forward to becoming a part of your community," Hock said.
Ald. David Schmidt (1st) explained some of the background of the selection.
"(Hock had) a broad base of support among the aldermen. He was not the first choice of a majority, but he was the second choice of many," he said. "Hock does have support of the council," Schmidt continued. "He has my wholehearted support."
Schmidt questioned the statement that two candidates withdrew because of the local blogs.
"I asked every one of those three candidates, 'How would the blogs affect you?' Every one of them said, 'No problem.' One of them said, 'I may start one of my own,'" Schmidt said. He also disagreed with Frimark's references to politics during the introduction. "I'm just appalled at the way the mayor made this announcement," Schmidt said. He explained the council talked in closed session about showing a united front. "The mayor couldn't resist; he had to couch the announcement in political terms. He had to use it to cast dispersions on his political adversaries."
However, Schmidt was pleased with the result. He cited Hock's 30 years of experience compared to Murphy's 15 years and Clark's 5 years.
"I think we're better off for it," Schmidt said. "We're getting somebody with a lot of experience."
Hock is currently the city manager of Oak Park, Mich., a municipality bordering Detroit of 29,000 residents and 200 city employees. Its budget is $58.3 million compared to Park Ridge's $52.5 million. During his service there, he has created budgets, proposed financial remedies, established Tax Increment Financing districts, maintained intergovernmental relationships, focused on community development projects, led a citizens committee through community visioning, and negotiated labor contracts.
Hock earned a bachelor's degree from Hillsdale College and a Master of Public Administration from Oakland University. He attended advanced training and the University of Virginia and Harvard University. He plans to take the position in Park Ridge within 60 days.