Exit Interview: Best Wishes on Mr. Connors' Last Day as Evansville City Administrator

Today is Mr.Connor's last day as Evansville City Administrator. Quality organizations, schools, corporations and cities have exit interviews---the purpose of which is to reflect on the period of employment, on ways the organization could be improved or the process improved and also a short review of the highs and lows.

Because I am not sure whether the city has an exit interview, I thought it would be nice to review, for the blog, some of the major challenges that Mr.Connors faced over the past few years.

To name a few: Hwy 14 Road Reconstruction, Water Problems on the West Side, The Sgt of Police matter, Budgets, TIF districts, Annexations to carry Evansville for a decade,many many municipal ordinances created or revised and last but not least thousands of problems brought to him by citizens of Evansville for whom he was the City.

In times of major change, there are two distinct types of leaders who employ two distinct types of strategies: The first tries to control, manipulate and stifle a broad range of discussion. The second type of leader, a rarer breed, fully engages the community, confident that after a full discussion the public interest will be served, and confident that however difficult this choice is and tenuous for one personally, this is where the public wins. I believe Mr. Connors ranks with the second type of leaders.

I know Mr. Connors, as a lawyer, would like to revel in all the ordinances. For the Observer, however, since after all, I am doing the exit interview, I would rank as his highest achievement the engagement in meetings and yes in blogs of the public. He was the one who asked the question "Do we care about collector streets or not? Do we care about Smart Growth limits or not? The answers were up to the Evansville Common Council, not him---a point missed by many.

My favorite Bill Connors story was about the meeting that was in full discussion mode when he received a phone call---which stunned me cause nobody has cell phones in the chamber.

"I'll Be right there." he replied on the phone.

I found out later that his two new adopted children had just arrived after a marathon plane ride with his wife.

I have seen a lot of battles in my day. It is rare in the midst of a battle for a leader to pause and adopt two children and keep his stride. Rare to take a moment out to focus on what is important when the things that come and go seem so pressing.

Bill's contribution to the city will become clearer over time. The Observer wishes him and his family the best as they proceed.