The following are some points we would like to make about Albert Lea’s search for a city manager:

The Tribune did a story on how three of five finalists were fired or released from their previous jobs. We didn’t contact city officials to see whether they already knew these facts because, frankly, of course they already knew. Most reasonable people assume the newspaper is telling readers facts about the finalists city officials already had.

Some online comment makers wrongly criticized city leaders and the recruiting consultant for not knowing this. So here’s an analogy for them: When colleges search for basketball coaches, the stories on the sports pages mention the coaches were fired at other colleges, but the writers don’t say whether the hiring officials knew that. Of course, the college leaders know.

In fact, being fired from their previous positions isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, it reflects poorly on the council rather than the city manager. It could mean Albert Lea gets a talented leader who otherwise would not have been available.

In the private sector, companies search for leaders often through trade associations, advertising and personal connections prior to going to a recruiter. Why did the city feel the need to call a recruiter so quickly in the search for a manager? Freeborn County leaders, by comparison, found an administrator by trying the search on their own first. We feel The Brimeyer Group does a fine job, to be sure, but it seems cart-before-the-horse-like to start a job search by calling a recruiter.

The City Council has a major decision on its hands that will impact this community for years to come and should not feel rushed once all the candidates have been interviewed. If they found the right person, fine, but they should always remember there is the option of not selecting any of the finalists and starting a new search. After all, that’s what the recruiter is for.

Some traits to look for: City Council members should look for a city manager who does not take politics personally. They should look for a city manager who will be seen out and about in the community in more ways than his or her official capacity. The new city manager should be more of an educator who likes to explain a variety of options when decisions are to be made, rather than pushing a single course. The new city manager should embrace the role of the Fourth Estate.