Remember former Menominee City Manager Ted Andrzewjewski? You know, the guy who fired a long-time and respected city assessor in 2015 because she was being harassed by a (now former) council member and had the audacity to complain about it?
He left Menominee in the spring of 2016, taking a job in Canandaigua, New York.
As city manager there, it took just over a year to become embroiled in controversy once again. Read more here.
Four months later, he was placed on administrative leave. Not long after that, his deputy manager replaced him.
Now, it seems Andrzejewski is trying to return to Michigan. He's the top runner for a management job in Cass, Mich. He obviously gives good interviews. No word yet on whether or not that appointment has been finalized.
Meanwhile, the person he hired to replace the Menominee city assessor stayed on the job less than a year.
I don't wish Andrzejewski ill. I hope he turns the corner and does a great job in Cass City, and is able to end his career on a high note.
Update: Sadly, the offer was rescinded. See story.
But let his story serve as an example. (And learn to Google, Menominee!)
Not that we need more examples. We are seeing the effects of bad choices on a national level on a daily basis. But locally, there aren't as many checks and balances in place to mute the effects of a bad leader.
Andrzewski wasn't a good leader. He failed to protect the city from legal damage and damage to its reputation.
The jury is still out on whether or not we've elected or hired good leaders on either side of the river in the past two years.
But I'm seeing signs of hope.
