Sunday, March 1, 2015

Leadership, A.W.O.L.

So, much has happened in the last week!  Carterville fired its police chief.  Carbondale mayoral candidates are squabbling about who to replace their fired chief with.  The Jackson County States Attorney announced their would be no indictment in the case of Praveen Varughese., leaving many unanswered questions.  The John A. Logan College Board of Trustees approved a plan that will result in the layoff of a combination of full and part time staff.

The Political Science Club, at Logan will sponsor a forum for candidates seeking election to the Board.  The forum is tomorrow (Monday) night, March 2, in the Tarpin/Crisp Rooms, at John A. Logan College.  (UPDATE:  We've learned that the location has changed to the Batteau/Ivy Rooms.)  Rumor has it that one of the candidates for re-election, Board Chairman Jake Rendleman, will be absent.  Given the current climate on campus, recent layoffs, budget pressures and recent close scrutiny from the media, one would think a candidate would arrange his schedule to accommodate the only real opportunity the public will have, during the campaign, to compare the candidates.

Hopefully, this is an unfounded rumor.  However, if true, one has to assume the absence is not due to any emergency, given that word of Rendleman's intended absence has been circulating for days.  If he has some previously scheduled medical procedure preventing his attendance, he should publicly announce that.  Otherwise, non-participation is an insult to his fellow candidates, the student body and the voters of the district.  It would be the height of arrogance to believe that simply because of incumbency one could simply run on past experience and reputation and not be subject to probing inquiry and debate.  The forum starts at 6:00, tomorrow night.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE:

There are six candidates vying for for three seats on the Logan Board.  Here's what we know, or think we do, so far.

Ray Hancock:  Another Hancock on the board?  Yes, Ray Hancock comes with baggage.  His sister-in-law Jackie is already a Trustee, and the hiring of his son Barry when Ray was president raised one of the first cries of nepotism at JALC.  But he is genuinely concerned about the college, he certainly understands budgets, and he has a backbone.  Now that the BOT can't fire him, he might be the best choice to stand up against Brewer and his ilk.

Mandy Little:  Mandy Little is a former student trustee.  Student trustees have no power and their votes don’t count.  They can, however, make one symbolic vote – oppose any tuition increases. Mandy didn’t do that as student trustee.  She’s already been sucked into the “club.”  Student trustees generally make poor board members – remember Cecelia Dunbar?

John Sanders:  John Sandershas been a decent board member and so far, we see no reason to oppose his re-election.  He just needs to show his backbone more than playing the occasional role of board buffoon.

Jake Rendleman:  As we pointed out above, he may play hooky from the candidate forum.  Lacking a really good excuse, that's a real slap in the face to the voters.

Bill Alstat:  Bill Alstat serves on the Jackson County Board and is tight with the Jackson County
Democrats in the style of Brewer and Kilquist.  So far, Alstat has demonstrated an incredible lack of knowledge of higher education and the very serious issues facing JALC.

Brad Heuring:  Brad Heuring is a public school administrator who at least should understand some of the issues facing the college.  He is a former Logan student and athlete.

The Southern Illinoisan had another Voice of the Southern editorial regarding Logan today.  It's unclear that they understand that people have already been given notice that they've lost their jobs. This should be a subject of tomorrow night's forum.

After the candidate forum, conducted prior to the last JALC Board election, WJPF posted the audio recording and we linked to it.  If they do so again, we will link to them again, so those who don't have the opportunity to attend can hear the candidates full answers.


7 comments:

  1. Jake Rendleman is alive and well and should attend that forum. If i were a betting person the rumors will stand to be true-HE WILL NOT SHOW UP..not due to any hospitalization, tests, etc. but due to his reluctance to tell the truth in a public forum and his plain "cowardness" to meet his unfriendly opposition. Plus, the lap dog won't have his "mouth" Brewer or Kilquist" to tell him what to say or do! Heuring would be excellent with an educational background and a true understanding of JALC. Hancock despite relative on board at this time (she probably won't be next election) and his son on payroll..would be excellent because he is well aware what the BOARD is about and could stop all the nonsense that goes on. He is well aware what the college needs and he fully supports the tax payer and JALC programs in education and athletics. Sanders is good but is it time to get new blood on the board? Legal advice from sanders at times keeps board in line..so i would say he would be great.. Those 3 could win 2 positions and knock the Rendleman boy off the board..BUT THE VOTERS HAVE TO GET OUT and do it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. How many positions are open? Two or three?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Three seats are open--Mike Hopkins isn't running again. Can't blame him, how much fun can it be, unless your ego is your main concern (ahem, Mr. Rendleman). Also not sure why above post is so high on "Dr. Ray." Talk about a giant step backwards to the good ol nepotism days. How did "Dr. Barry" get hired? Right, part time so there wwould not have to be a real search. How soon did he get promoted? Right, weeks, not even months. Ethics is ethics is ethics. Why would voters trust him now when he was right in the middle of all the Hiring of Sons? Also why does he get to use the JAL logo? I thoughts schools were pretty protective of that...

    ReplyDelete
  4. if you look at that post above i think you would realize why people are high on Dr Ray despite the NEPOTISM factor..which i actually think is a negative but: HE WILL NOT ALLOW CURRENT MEMBERS KILQUIST, Brewer, and Rendleman run the show where some newcomers may be a little intimidated by the OLD VETERANS..plus his knowlege of the school itself.

    ReplyDelete
  5. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FORUM MONDAY NIGHT? DID ALLMIGHTY RENDLEMAN SHOW UP

    ReplyDelete
  6. you mean Jake didn't show up at all? should be ashamed of himself..just when I thought he would get his self in a public atmosphere to explain himself and topics he failed to study his "script" from brewer and kilquist..so he chickened little out of that pressure

    ReplyDelete