How They Voted

Spend $30,000 To "Search" For

Pat O'Keeffe?

At the Tattler, we've noticed the city council and other deliberative bodies in Emeryville make controversial votes that get forgotten by the residents over time. In deference to the general edification of public policy and to strengthen Emeryville's democratic institutions, we will publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

In February, 2007, the issue before the City Council was:

Should the City hire Pat O'Keeffe as City Manager after paying $30,000 for a nation-wide executive search that Council member Dick Kassis called a waste of time and money?

Nora Davis - YES

Ruth Atkin - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

John Fricke - NO

Ken Bukowski - NO

Pat O'Keeffe was working for the City for 11 years as the head of the Redevelopment Agency at the time and Dick Kassis said they should just vote to have Mr O'Keeffe move up to City Manager and not waste time and money on a phony executive search. He said everyone knew they would hire Mr O'Keeffe in the end anyway. He subsequently went ahead and voted for the search along with his colleagues and later they voted to hire Mr O'Keeffe (by the 3-2 vote). Council member Fricke revealed after Mr O'Keeffe was confirmed, that of the several applicants that were considered, Mr O'Keeffe was not the most qualified applicant for the job.