Snyder’s mindset the problem

In the Jan. 28 Spokesman-Review article regarding Jan Quintrall’s resignation as Business and Developer Services division head for the city of Spokane, City Councilman Jon Snyder was quoted saying “I don’t know if Jan was always cognizant of how different the public sector is from the private sector.”

I wonder if Snyder is cognizant of how disappointing that statement is to those of us in the private sector.

Based on the positive changes that I experienced in my dealings with the city during Quintrall’s tenure, I can only assume the differences that Snyder is referring to are that the public sector should not value customer service, competent performance and personal accountability the same way as the private sector. Unfortunately for taxpayers, the public sector gets paid either way.

While holding the public sector to higher standards may have led to Quintrall’s demise, I believe Snyder’s way of thinking is the root of the problem (and what continues to impede the progress that our city desperately needs).

Darin Davidson

Spokane