Letter to the Editor: Hercules Needs a Permanent Finance Director

I love living in Hercules and hope to live out my days here.  I enjoy my home, my neighborhood, my neighbors.  I draw great joy from witnessing the high level of public involvement – even when people have things to say that I totally disagree with.  I have learned that better decisions get made when all view are considered.

Hercules has serious problems to overcome. Most of those are financial while some are political, especially when it comes to the question of how is public's trust and faith in City Hall going to be improved. I avoid saying restored because I’m not sure there ever was much.

I am firmly convinced that this city must start by righting its financial ship. I doubt that there is any need to list the facts that lead me to say that. I strongly believe that the starting point on that journey is to recruit a Finance Director who is exceptional well-informed in general fund matters; who is a strong enough personality to tell the truth – even when that truth is unpleasant, or is not what out elected officials or citizens want to hear.  I urge our city manager to move forward with all due dispatch to recruit and hire such a person. The question of to whom or to what body that individual reports is a tomorrow question.

I urge my neighbors to make it clear to Mr. Duran that we want a permanent finance director in place at the earliest reasonable date.