Picking a City Manager

For John, BLUF:  Best person, not best friend.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Late this afternoon, listening to John MacDonald on WCAP (980) and his show "The Pulse", I heard State Reps Tom Golden and David Nangle talking about candidates for City Manager and the theory put out that the new City Manager should be "from Lowell".

I wondered what that term meant?  Was it some sort of code word, or dog whistle, as Blogger Jack Mitchell would say?  Was it related to "From Lowell, For Lowell."  Perplexed, I texted John MacDonald, but to no avail.  It looks like Mr MacDonald got a new cell phone when he left Sal's to form his own firm, Big Decisions, LLC.  Here is what I sent:

John
What does it mean "from Lowell"?

Cliff Krieger?
George Anthes?
Bill Taupier?
Senator Eileen?

Thanks
Regards — Cliff

When my intervention didn't come up on the radio program I did some paradigm exploring.  What does it mean to be from Lowell.  Is it enough to be born here, or must your parents also be from Lowell.♠  How about their parents?  Back as far as when Mansur was Mayor?

The real point was communication and its importance.  Having gone to high school with the State Reps should not be a qualification.  And what of our esteemed State Senator.  Should the City Manager have to be from out west, so he or she can talk effectively with the State Senator?  Do they need to know where Hungry Hill is?

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  This reminds one of the "natural born citizen argument we have had with several Presidential candidates, wherein some argue that the use of the term "natural born" in the US Constitution means the parents must be US Citizens.  This is, of course, rubbish.