A year and a half can be a long time for the community if the Albert Lea City Council tries to rush through the mayoral selection process. Our leaders have a responsibility to take some time to find the right person for the job, provide a fair playing field for all who may throw their hat in the ring and prove their own ethics are above board and in the best interests of residents.

Applications from each mayoral candidate should be acquired, along with a formal letter of interest. These documents will offer information on an individual’s skills and knowledge to help council members pick a qualified candidate to lead the city in the next 18 months. The five-minute presentations being suggested are also a good idea &045; how a candidate communicates, along with other intangible talents may become evident through the talks.

The council should also establish a timeline to ensure adequate input from city residents. While this selection is not a formal election, it must be conducted in a professional manner and level the selection playing field for interested residents.

Finally, if the council is interested in what’s best for the community, how they choose to select a mayor is crucial and if done properly, should not bring into question serving self-interests or unfairness.

Given an election is not required in this selection, the council is responsible for doing what’s best for Albert Lea on behalf of its residents by accepting applications for the position of mayor, establishing a timeline for the appointment process and ensure fairness for everyone &045; candidates and residents.