Baker hire not staying in job

The son of Spokane County’s chief deputy assessor lost his job late Friday afternoon, soon after Assessor Ralph Baker was informed that human resources officials believed 23-year-old Adam Best wasn’t qualified.

In the two days that Best worked as property data manager, his new position became controversial when other county leaders said the hire smacked of nepotism.

“He’s a bright young man who would do a great job for our office, but I serve the community and the community is pretty clear they don’t want this to happen,” Baker said. “It’s my mistake and my error.”

Human Resources Director Cathy Malzahn said Friday that Best didn’t appear to meet the minimum requirements. He is the son of Kevin Best, a friend of Baker’s and the No. 2 manager in the office.

Thirteen people applied for the job. Baker said he interviewed the top three candidates on Tuesday, and Kevin Best observed all three – including his son. Baker said he made the decision to hire Adam Best on his own but did talk with father and son about the possibility that it could become controversial.

Baker said he knew that Adam Best, a University of Washington graduate with a geography degree, likely would apply for the job but was open to other candidates.

“I’m more than happy to give up the position,” Adam Best said minutes after being informed of the decision. “It’s hurting the office, and that’s not what I’m here to do.”

County Commissioner Bonnie Mager said the hire indicates a need to consider creating an ethics commission that could examine situations like Adam Best’s hire.

“Every time somebody does something like this it further undermines public confidence that this isn’t just some good ol’ boy network,” Mager said.

Malzahn said she had tried and failed to get Baker to return applications for her review to make sure his top choice met minimum requirements, but she didn’t get the applications back until Thursday, after Adam Best already was at work.

“The question of nepotism is huge for this county,” Malzahn said, noting that the hire had become a big topic among county employees.

Malzahn asked three human resources employees to examine Adam Best’s application after she received it Thursday.

“Based upon the information that we were provided on the application, all three felt the individual did not meet the requirements for the job,” Malzahn said.

Baker said he thought all the candidates had been screened before he got the applications. Once he noticed paperwork from people who clearly weren’t qualified, Baker said he thought he could screen them himself.

Malzahn said that on Feb. 9 when Kevin Best picked up the applications of those who applied, he confirmed with human resources specialist Heather Kvokov that the assessor did not want the department to pre-screen the applications for minimum requirements. Best was provided a note that warned they hadn’t yet been screened. Malzahn said when department leaders request to view all the applications, they are supposed to return the top choice’s information for review before a hire is made.

The county has a policy against hiring relatives or spouses of employees in cases where “one relative or spouse would have the authority or practical power to supervise, appoint, remove or discipline the other.”

The job description for Adam Best’s position said he would report directly to the assessor. Kevin Best performs the assessor’s duties when Baker is absent.

County leaders, however, said the nepotism rule, created by county commissioners, is only advisory for other elected officials.

Baker said he thought the rule aimed to prevent him from hiring his relatives, not the relatives of other supervisors. Baker also noted that he has employed a few married couples.

Kevin Best worked under Baker in the Air Force. Baker said he has known Adam Best since before Adam was in high school.

Baker boosted Adam Best’s pay by three steps beyond the base salary without first seeking approval from human resources, a move done against normal county procedures, Malzahn said.

The assessor said he gave Adam Best a $38,471 salary, more than $5,000 higher than the base rate, because that’s about what Adam Best had been earning as a real estate agent for the past year and a half.

The specifications for the position say the minimum requirements were a bachelor’s degree and two years of related experience.

The job, which was intended to be a backup for the county’s levy specialist, was a nonunion position. Baker said he intended it to be part of his “inner circle” along with the chief deputy. It’s unclear if someone else will be named property data manager.

“I’ll probably go back and look at the job description and reassess if we want to go forward,” Baker said.

Adam Best said he gave up his real estate job to take the new position.

“I’m going to take a long weekend to figure this out,” he said.