PATRONAGE IN AMHERST
One of the questions I ask a candidate running for office in Amherst is what they would do if their party boss told them to hire someone who was not qualified for a certain job but had strong party connections.
One candidate I interviewed recently was Guy Marlette. His response to this question was clear and sincere. He said he “wouldn’t hire an employee dictated by the party boss. Every job opening should be an equal opportunity for existing employees and any new applicant that is qualified, possessing the skill set the job requires.” Most candidates replied in a similar fashion.
I asked Marlette about positions that were already filled with political appointees and he responded, “I can’t speak for past practices, but I can speak for how I would govern and how I believe the employees and residents would want me to govern. In an open and transparent government job openings are posted and/or advertised and I would strive to fill those openings or vacancies with the best, most qualified individuals.”
When Bob Gilmour was the Amherst Republican boss, probably the most well known example of dumping of an unqualified political lackey into a high paying job, was when Joe Speth was handed the job of Assistant Supertendent of the Highway Department. Instead of promoting one of the many qualified people already in the Highway Department, party boss Gilmour told Bob Anderson to give the assistant’s job to Joe Speth, a man who had never worked one day in the Amherst Highway Department! Speth’s previous job list consisted of jobs given to him by the party, including working at the Board of Elections.
This black spot on Anderson’s record should burn deeply into the mind of every working stiff who dreams of working his way up the ladder to a good paying job. Such workers have to face the fact that good jobs are often simply given to a Joe Speth type. Individuals such as this are the ones who are plainly handed good jobs because they lack integrity and honesty, something many party bosses love in their lackeys.
Hiring Joe Speth in this manner was a despicable act and a slap in the face of every decent worker in Amherst, but especially to those in the Highway Department. Anderson should have said a very loud “No” to this deal but instead he chose to shut his mouth and continued to portray the ‘man in charge’.
Not a single candidate I interviewed felt Anderson did the right thing. They all agreed that his hiring of Joe Speth was a blow to the respect his men held for him.
When Marshall Woods beat Bob Gilmour for the Amherst Republican Chairmanship this unethical practice ceased. The Amherst Republican Party, with Marshall Woods at the helm, has regained its integrity and creditability. Woods is a man whose word is his bond which disturbs some political leaders in Amherst.
In today’s political world it’s rare to find an honest man. Amherst lucked out with Marshall Woods.
