OUR OPINION: APPOINTMENTS

Criticism comes with the territory for anyone in public office and we suspect that most of our duly elected officials develop a pretty thick skin. Sometimes the blame is justified and sometimes it's not.

Mayor James Wallin was the brunt of a critical Open Forum in Friday's paper that just didn't make much sense. The mayor, who encouraged applicants for various city boards at Tuesday's council meeting, was criticized for not appointing anyone who disagrees with him to city posts.

The letter writer stated his opinion that in order to win appointment "You must be an individual that approves with everything Wallin does or says." That's quite an achievement if Wallin can find such a person. There are area politicians who have told us that even their own spouses don't agree with every position they take.

Wallin, as the elected mayor, has the right to appoint anyone he likes to the various committees and panels. If those people tend to generally agree with Wallin's policies, that's not all bad, since voters elected him to the office for a reason. There are, after all, plenty of elective offices available for those who are unsuccessful in being appointed to a city post.