The Long Way Home 11.22.24

At this point, the road ahead is much shorter than the road behind me. (I stole that from someone, but I can’t remember who.) So, for what it’s worth, here’s my take on the recent leadership departures in Cook County government. 

If you haven’t followed local media, here’s the scoop. In recent months, Cook County EDA Director Theresa Bajda resigned in August after less than a year on the job.

Jason Hale, who was hired to head the new Housing and Redevelopment Authority in April 2022, also took over the additional role of acting EDA Director when Bajda left. On November 8, he tendered his resignation.

Between these two resignations, County Attorney Molly Hickens tendered her resignation to accept a job in the private sector. Then, County Administrator James Joerke resigned following the tragic loss of his wife to a vehicle accident in Kansas City. 

Four crucial, albeit not mission-critical, positions were left vacant in a span of less than three months What could be happening? Are we ungovernable?

After an interview with Bajda and Hale last Spring, my podcast partner, Joe Friedrichs, and I contemplated when those two county department leaders would “move on.” My cynicism led me to guess they’d both be gone by year-end. The only things Joe and I disagreed on were who’d leave first and how late in the year it might happen.

Part of my cynicism came from watching my ex-son-in-law, who shall not be named. He was Reno's assistant park/rec director during the Bush recession, which hit Reno hard. Services like park/rec were on the block. Seeing an impending layoff, SIL left for a similar position in Cedar Rapids, IA, a city better positioned to survive the recession. He took the assistant job, understanding that he'd gain promotion when the director resigned in a year or two. That happened. But it didn’t take long for SIL to tire of the politics of elected officials and citizen gadflies making the job tiresome, and he moved back to the Sierras as assistant director in a small tourist town. I guess he’s still there.

In the 1990s, a certain newspaper publisher in Grand Marais met with the incoming Chair of the County Board of Commissioners in what was to be an introductory meet and greet. Greetings done and coffee filled, the commissioner pointed to the publisher and said, “You’re the one causing all the problems in Cook County.” 

Yes, even three decades ago, county government had its share of acrimony.

After an interview with Administrator Joerke in 2022, I wrote that he was optimistic about the future here. He saw Cook County as a unique and challenging place to fulfill his goal of becoming a County Administrator in 2020. He said that the board he serves is super important, and they work very well together. “They make my job a whole lot easier,” he said.

Leaving now, his opinion has changed. 

He posted about skipping a county board meeting on social media on November 12. “I didn’t go to the meeting today because there has been too much negativity and pettiness in recent County Board meetings. Commissioners say things that are based on rumors, speculation, and assumptions. They denigrate the work of decent, honest people who do their jobs in good faith with a focus on making our community a better place. They make careless comments to score points with a handful of their constituents who, in ignorance, malice, or a combination of the two, think County government employees are trying to pull something.” 

Local governing is messy. Gadflies and grievances make life miserable for elected officials and county staff. Like baseball umpires and football officials, every decision might be controversial and blasted with accusations and recriminations. It’s human nature.

“Herding cats” describes leadership more appropriately than lamenting, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Take it from someone who has steered organizations from the elementary school PTA to trade associations, political parties, and growing businesses on the long road to here: Negativity and pettiness come with the territory. 

Harry Truman said it best, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” 

It would be good to warn new hires who may accept one of these open county positions in the year ahead that sometimes the kitchen gets hot. 

And I’d add that you should adopt a dog if you want a friend when you take a government position.