Chamber shenanigans

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My friend (and former colleague) Mary Alice Murphy has another recent story on the continuing saga of the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber board of directors, if you recall, decided last month to accept executive director Nicole Robbins’ resignation rather than grant her a three month working leave of absence. Many of the chamber members (you know, the local business owners in the area) cried fowl, and have since forced a recall election for the board.

I’ve got some strong feelings on this matter – Nicole is one of the most earnest people I’ve ever met, and I’ve never known anybody so dedicated to doing well. Simply put, I can’t understand why anybody would want to ler her go.

At the same time, I’m a practical guy, and I’m not privy to the internal discussions of the board over what is fundamentally a personnel issue. It reminds me of the city council years ago when it replaced Tom Bates as city manager. Bates had some strong support in the coomunity, but the council made its decision and stuck by it.

Finally, I have some personal history with many of the board members, and nothing but respect for them. The board member have consistently stepped above and beyond what their professional careers required to serve with numerous civic organizations within Grant County.

Regardless, it looks like the chamber board have already formed a search committee to look for an interim director. This either conveys a sense that they feel they have enough support to survive the recall election or they don’t care either way, and they’re going about business as usual.

I’d be a bit more interested in learning about the logistics of the vote. Will the meeting be public (I’ll be in town that week)? How will it be tabulated: does a majority of the membership have to be present? Or, does it require a majority (or supermajority) of those members who show up?

Anybody else know of recent developments?

Journalist turnover in Silver City

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(Updated in comments – Please see below)
With the recent news that Levi Hill would be leaving the Silver City Sun News, and Mary Alice Murphy’s shift to a part-time, freelance schedule at the Silver City Daily Press, came a realization: in the past four years, there’s been a 100-percent turnover for full-time, daily reporters in Silver City.

When I returned from Washington D.C. ((where I had interned with Sen. Jeff Bingaman for the summer)) in August, 2004, I took a position as news director for KNFT radio. My predecessor, Larry Behrens, had just taken a job as KOAT’s local reporter for the Silver City/Southwest New Mexico area. At the Sun News, Levi was working with Tom Baird and sports reporter Matt Miller. The Daily Press was employing Melissa St. Aude, Mary Alice Murphy, and Steven Siegfried, with Vince Kong on sports duty.

The lay of the land has changed completely. Every name listed above has moved on (or is moving on) with the exception of Mary Alice, whose role at the Daily Press has been reduced significantly. KNFT’s news operation was basically scrapped in 2006.

I think the changes have been gradual enough that there’s been no serious loss of institutional knowledge, the statistic is staggering in my mind. What happens to follow through on long-term stories? How does a news organization maintain relationships with the community when its most visible ambassadors are constantly changing?

What do you think? Has the turnover in reporters been good, bad, or a mixed bag?

Bill Richardson campaigns in Silver City

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Bill Richardson in Silver City
Gov. Bill Richardson stopped by Penny Park this afternoon for a campaign rally with local Democratic candidates and area supporters.

Richardson urged support for the Democratic ticket, including Jeff Bingaman, James Lewis, Mary Herrera and Hector Balderas. He also highlighted Gary King, Jim Baca and Sandy Jones as candidates in tight, important races.

He then spoke about his goals for a second term as governor. Richardson said three priorities will be a statewide minimum wage increase, a push for greater energy independence and a focus on water issues. Speaking of water, here’s Richardson speaking with Allyson Siwik, executive director of the Gila Resources Information Project:

BIll Richardson and Allyson Siwik

The Guv. was stopping in six counties this afternoon, and said he was heading to Catron County next. For more, be sure to check out tomorrow’s Silver City Daily Press.