Weighing in
A weekly look at reader comments and reactions to the news
The 2010 election is still nearly nine months away but the early posturing in the race for Spokane County prosecutor brought a flurry of reaction from readers, with some calling for incumbent Steve Tucker’s resignation over the firing of one of his deputies and ballot box rival Dave Stevens and others suggesting anyone who bad-mouths the boss should expect dismissal. Here’s a sampling of comments posted at www.spokesman.com.
TrueGOP: Tucker is such an absent-minded individual. Does he not realize that this decision of his just proved to Spokane County that David Stevens was correct?
towerfam05: Like Tucker or hate him, a county employee cannot walk around the place of employment vocally bashing their boss. Can you, at your place of work?
Gregman: It doesn’t seem right that a person should be fired for speaking out against your publicly elected official, even if they are in charge of the department you work for.
Spokanesausage: Of course he was fired. Why don’t you go up to your boss, bad-mouth him, call him absent administrator and see what happens. Just because one works for government or is an elected official doesn’t mean you don’t follow common workplace practices or face appropriate punishment. I’ll vote for you Stevens, but don’t play a victim too hard or it might bite you.
CONCERNEDREADER: Had Stevens simply publicly announced his running against Tucker, left it at that, and ran his campaign on his own time, he would not have been fired, and if he had been fired for simply announcing that he was running for Tucker’s position, then he would have grounds and more to stand on in an appeal of his termination and grievance process he now faces.
PlanB: Tucker is an elected official, and it is not only the right of an employee to point out gross mismanagement, but their duty. And Stevens is in a better position to know that than most people, although I guess in this case Tucker’s negligence of duty is pretty well known.
Spoketucky: Bosses that won’t tolerate criticism of their performance from subordinates are tyrannical rulers who forge loyalty through intimidation and desire subservience instead of professionalism. Tucker didn’t resign either time he ran for re-election, so trotting out the excuse about campaigning on the public dime is not only a weak excuse for acting like a spoiled urchin, but hypocrisy at its height.