It’s a good thing there is time to change the make-up of the citizens panel that will interview candidates for city manager of Albert Lea.

It appears the list neglects key aspects of the community.

That’s not necessarily the city’s fault, as some citizens would charge. Many people were asked and we don’t know who declined. Also, if people wish to be on the panel, they can contact their city councilor. It’s that easy.

Either there are some areas of the community that need to step to the plate and be involved in selecting the next city manager or there is a need to ask a wider range of folks.

Most clearly, the list has no ethnic group other than white. Visit the Fourth of July fireworks ceremony any year and you’ll find Albert Lea has more skin colors than you would imagine.

There also is no one from the legal community. Albert Lea is the county seat, and most county seats have an active legal community comprising judges, lawyers, police officers and sheriff’s deputies, probation officers, victims’ advocates and child protection agents. Frankly, a lawyer in private practice would be good for the panel.

There indeed is a person who works for Rink Systems. He will be a good representative for workers in Albert Lea. But there really also needs to be a representative from among industry leaders. The panel truly could use a member who is a higher-up at a local manufacturer.

Otherwise, we are happy to see a decent range in ages and a satisfactory gender selection. It does cover commerce, nonprofits, education, seniors, health and housing.

One more suggestion. Perhaps a nice olive branch for the sake of city-county relations would be to seek a Freeborn County employee for the panel.