Thu, Jul 24 2008
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Published May 09, 2008 09:56 pm - It can't be an easy job to be a public official. You have to be tough to be a public official Robert Lebzelter column for May 11, 2008 It can't be an easy job to be a public official. You get yelled at, belittled, treated almost as rudely as if you were the daily newspaper. And that's only the type of abuse coming from other public officials. Take Douglas Lewis, the embattled, outgoing Conneaut city manager. I understand his people skills weren't always the best and that is an important part of being a public administrator. I can remember when Bob Herron became the first city manager. He attended virtually every meeting of every club and organization. Anybody who was anybody wanted the newspaper to come out and get a photo of its members with Herron signing proclamations or reading to the kiddies or buying the first ticket to a club activity. Part of the change with Lewis is by the time he was appointment, being city manager was old hat. Nobody asked him to proclaim anything. Lewis’ final City Council session last week included criticism from Ward 1 Councilman Dave Campbell over the postponement of Love's Travel Center's construction of a new store off I-90 in Conneaut. Despite possible shortcomings, I know he also worked long hours, often into the evening, on city projects. Getting new developments in Conneaut seems to take five times the effort as it would elsewhere. Some Lewis proponents say his efforts will bring results at some point. Given that, it’s sad that his final meeting met with criticism and Councilman-at-Large Jacob Chicatelli was the only person to wish him well and thank him for his efforts. Ashtabula City Solicitor Michael Franklin can probably relate to Lewis. He gets a constant barrage of criticism, too. But it's not because of his temper. It's not because of his people skills. It appears to be because he beat Tom Simon to be elected solicitor. 
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