As we have consistently pointed out in this series, Pima County Supervisor Mikey Boyd is the king of pissing backwards. He shows no responsibility for any statement he made even five minutes ago. In fact, he exhibits no responsibility for much of anything, as the following will show.
Here's part of an exchange concerning the abolition of the position of deputy county manager. First, a quote from Mikey from January 1993, taken from an interview by Channel 4's Sandy Rathbun, during which Mikey crowed about how much money he's saving the taxpayers by firing a bunch of folks:
"And in terms of the positions being vacated, they're going to be vacated forever."
Bear that quote in mind as you read the following. Once again, the interrogator is attorney Bill Hanson.
Q: Do you recall Mr. Postil becoming deputy county manager in December of 1992?
BOYD: I don't recall--oh, yes I do recall that, yes. Yes.
Q: And of course Mr. Willett now is deputy county manager under Mr. Huckelberry, correct?
BOYD: That's correct.
Q: So I guess it would not be fair to say that the position of deputy county manager was vacated forever, either, was it?
BOYD: Based on Mr. Huckelberry's reorganization plan, he did what he felt was right.
Q: Well, what's your view of recreating a deputy county manager's position. Was that consistent with your philosophy as you've expressed it publicly over the years?
BOYD: It's my view that the county administrator--that I don't want to tell the county administrator how to set up his departments and how to deploy staff in a way he feels is best.
Q: So what's your personal opinion about whether or not he should have recreated the position?
BOYD: My personal opinion I just stated, that Mr. Huckelberry ought to be able to do what he wants to get the most out of Pima County staff.
Q: The distinction between what you're telling me and the question I'm asking...
BOYD: I don't have an opinion about it.
Q: OK. That's fine. You have no opinion about whether or not the taxpayers of Pima County should be paying for a deputy county manager, is that what you're saying?
BOYD: I think the county taxpayers just ought to be paying for the highest quality people in the position that's best for them. I'm not going to make a discrepancy, or I'm not going to make a comment on it. I mean, that's a ridiculous question.
Q: It's a ridiculous question to ask you?
BOYD: Yes.
Q: If the Pima County taxpayers should be concerned about paying $105,000 to a deputy county manager?
BOYD: I think if he's worth it--if Huckleberry thinks he's worth it, I think the taxpayers are getting a good deal. If he's not doing a good job and not worth it, then it's not the case. I think Mr. Huckleberry ought to be able to do what he wants with his own staff. I'm not going to tell him what he can or can't do.
Q: Even if it's inconsistent with your stated public policy about downsizing government?
BOYD: Well, he still may be downsizing government. Because he adds one deputy, there might be five or six people not doing something that were there before. Who knows? I mean, it's just one position we're talking about. There's 6,000 in Pima County. He still might be downsizing government. I hope he is. But just because you add one deputy county manager doesn't mean you're not downsizing government.
NEXT WEEK:
Mikey Defines Racial Slurs As "Comforting."
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