EDITORIAL: Lake officials make case for HR director

The Lake County commissioners flubbed in appointing a politically connected person to be a special assistant, and Lake County Council member Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, called them on it last week.

After the Lake County Council voted 4-3 to approve the commissioners' decision to hire Tramel Raggs, a son of Gary City Clerk Suzette Raggs, as a special assistant, the commissioners rescinded their decision to hire him.

Commissioner Fran DuPey, D-Hammond, said last week she was livid over the way her fellow commissioners hired Raggs on Dec. 21, with minimum notice, instead of posting the opening and choosing the best applicant. She objects to that position's existence, not just the way it was filled. But let's focus on the hiring practice for today.

Her fellow commissioners should be complimented -- in a backhanded, sarcastic way -- for providing an excellent example of why Lake County needs a standalone human resources department to prevent patronage hiring decisions like this.

It's time for a new policy that covers all jobs in Lake County government, whether it's a new position or one newly vacated.

If the job is truly justified, it should be duly posted and applicants sought. Let the human resources department see who is qualified and who can't pass basic skills and drug screening. Let the decision be made according to generally accepted business practices and not on political considerations.

Remember the Good Government Initiative report that said Lake County had way too many people on the payroll because of patronage -- some were hired to grant or return political favors, while others were hired to do the work that political hires were unable or unwilling to perform.

A standalone human resources department would be a good investment for Lake County government for this reason. Let job openings be filled with well qualified applicants, and give everyone a fair shot at jobs instead of using public dollars to build patronage fiefdoms.