With a tighter economy - alright, a lousy economy, I suppose it's natural to begin reflecting on what has occurred and to pass judgment on who is to blame for all the money issues - just who is doing their job?

I have to say I never understood the path California, its counties and its cities have taken with many of their decisions, down to the very set-up of their systems. I wasn't used to a board of supervisors, or for that matter police chiefs who also are the city managers, as is the case in Sutter Creek with Rob Duke. Which brings me to today's soap box speech.

I've been hearing a lot of conversations about Rob Duke with regards to the jobs he performs for Sutter Creek. At the risk of embarrassing Duke, I think it's time someone stood up and said a few things publicly, as opposed to the slimy back room meetings some of you seem to prefer.

Were assumptions made when the economy was swinging full speed? Yes. Were mistakes made based on the reality of the time? Yes. Duke, along with so many cities and businesses, would agree to that openly. Can anyone say that they wouldn't have done things differently, knowing how the economy is today?

Some accusations that really have me fired up are statements that Duke hasn't done his job when it comes to city planning or that he ditched regional planning with the Amador Regional Sanitation Agency, or that he isn't qualified to be both the chief of police and the city manager for Sutter Creek.

It's funny how individuals against city council decisions have decided to turn Duke's employment into personal attacks.

Duke is one of the most qualified city managers with a Master's and Ph.D. in public administration. He didn't abandon regional planning with ARSA. The city council and ARSA felt Sutter Creek was better served pursuing both local and regional plans to find solutions for Sutter Creek's rapidly aging systems.

For all my rantings and ravings over what is wrong in government, what elected officials and hired officials need to do is exactly what Duke is good at. He continues to bring new ideas and solutions to Sutter Creek and its city council, as well as performing duties far beyond what is necessary. My only hope is that the rest of the Duke supporters in Sutter Creek can bring about an end to the unjust backstabbing that is going on.