Whatever happened to statesmanship? I won’t repeat the trite phrases (OK, maybe just a few chestnuts) about how “politics is a blood sport” and “the public discourse has coarsened these past few years.” Frankly, it’s always been that way. It was when I worked in the federal government in the 1980s, and it is today. However, when it comes to local politics, my opinion is that we need to be statesmen. Party affiliations must be put aside and we must work together and stop obstructing each other. You have to understand the person authoring this is not a wimpy liberal nor a vascillating moderate, but a true die-hard conservative (first) and Republican (second). I believe that your beliefs matter, that your world view and viewpoint will inform your decision-making, and they should.

Political party affiliation does matter because a party’s philosophy will ultimately affect the laws that are made and the policies that are implemented. Yes, party affiliation matters. But on the local level, it matters less–far less. You see, party affiliation doesn’t have much to do with wooing prospective businesses to an area, or keeping them there. Or fixing roads and bridges. Or attracting talented workers. Or any of the dozens of other things local governments do. With local government, it’s almost all economics. Less taxes and more jobs equals more population equals good policy. It doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat or Republican.

Why this rant? A few weeks ago Darcy Fauci was named Broome County’s new director of economic development. Prior to that she was the county’s chief public relations person. Her boss, County Executive Barbara Fiala (a Democrat), gave her the promotion. The complaints from the Republican side of the isle didn’t take long to surface, primarily taking the form “she has no economic experience.” As Darcy herself said, “what kind of experience is economic experience anyway?” She’s worked in the county executive’s office for two years, and previous to that she was in the news business. She’s lived and worked in this area for some 20 years. Seems to her (and me) that she knows quite a bit about the economics of this region, and she likely knows how to promote this region to those considering relocation or establishing a new venture.

Here’s the bottom line: I have no idea how she will do in this position. But you know what, let’s give her a chance. I extend my hand across the isle, and say “Congratulations!” I don’t know about you, but I love it when someone works hard and gets ahead. This is not a case of favoritism or cronyism, but a case of someone working hard and getting a deserved promotion from the boss. We owe it to Darcy to give her a chance, and to help her succeed. For you see, when she, and Fiala, and everyone else in local government succeeds, we all succeed. That’s statesmenship. We need more of it in Greater Binghamton.

What do you think? Have I lost my mind and gone wimpy lib? Did Barbara Fiala make a mistake? Does Darcy deserve the benefit of the doubt? Do we need more statesmenship around Greater Binghamton? Leave me a comment.

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