Truth and Justice -  - Created: Monday, January 4 1999 3:14 PM - Page 1 of 1

January 4, 1999

Tom Kriz, county treasurer
Kim Painter, county recorder
Tom Slockett, county auditor

Dear Tom, Tom, and Kim:

Please let me add my endorsement that Tom Carsner be appointed to the vacant seat on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. I'm convinced there are reasons even more germane than the fact that county government can never have too many Toms.

There is no selection you will make that won't face accusations of granting political favors of some fashion. Making a selection that seeks to avoid those accusations will also draw accusations of having done just that. I would respectfully encourage you to make your choice with consideration for the choice with which you want to live over the long-term, the qualifications you'd rather be working with a year from now.

Johnson County is patently an extraordinary place. Its interests have always been best served by those who understand this and have a regard to protect all the many qualities which make it unique. It requires someone who not only espouses even-handed consideration for our wide variety of community interests but someone who has shown the widest range of this concern in tangible ways. Those who find pleasure as a citizen volunteer out of a fundamental obligation to community are always the most effective and skilled in any enterprise.

Tom Carsner has a stellar history of community involvement that expands into literally every facet of county life. He has volunteered for committees too numerous to list and never left behind any reputation that didn't admire the honor and industry of his service .Anyone who has ever volunteered for anything in community service or local government likely knows and is comfortable working with Tom. Carsner's talent as a mediator may be a consequence of his pastoral training and is equally well-known. It is often said "Tom is a good man."

I suppose an argument could be made that Tom deserves this post for years of selfless county service, but that's not my point. My concern is what the county needs, and who is best prepared to meet these needs. Who will most heartily and thoroughly investigate matters presented to the Board? Who will feel the most profound obligation for dispatching honest and clear information to all citizens? Who will be most objective in making decisions that are in the county's best interests overall? Who is best known to be accessible to the widest range of citizens? Who has the widest range of established working relationships in the broadest base of citizenry? Who will be most likely to give colleagues like yourselves straight-up answers to each and every question? Whom do you want answering the phone next March when you really need an even-handed explanation of something?

The decision you make should be the one you want to live with after people have forgotten frets of political favoritism. The wisdom of your decision will be judged on how well things are going a year from now far more than any opinion held today.

Carsner is a solid work-horse. He'll be where he is supposed to be. He'll do what he's supposed to do. He is informed and bright and has reliable integrity. He'll make life easier for you, and the rest of the Board, and that will benefit us all. Thanks for taking the time to think about this.

Sincerely,

Mona Shaw
818 S. Dubuque Street
Iowa City. Iowa 52240
319-341-5864