IS IT BERNAL'S STYLE THAT RUBS PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY?

 

Rene DeCoss

If there's any resistance to Rene DeCoss replacing Bobby Lerma as Municipal Judge, the hesitation may have nothing to do with DeCoss.

Rene DeCoss seems to have a compassionate temperament, a disposition that could allow a continuance of the 32 years of empathetic service of former Municipal Judge Ben Neece.

Neece recognized the economic challenges of many who appeared before him, leaning toward community service in lieu of fines.  Typically, that community service was not breaking rocks in the 100F sun, but duty as light as moving a desktop computer from one city office to another.

City Manager Noel Bernal

DeCoss may be penalized by the tedious style of City Manager Noel Bernal, the one making the appointment.

Bernal talks endlessly about creating a "culture" in our city's administration, an atmosphere of "inclusion," "empowerment" and "total alignment."

The first time I listened to Bernal pontificate, I thought he was talking in circles.  The second time, I knew he was.

Bernal is a theorist, not a pragmatist.  In other words, he talks a good game, but never gets to the nuts and bolts.

He's more impressive as a City Manager candidate than City Manager.

Arkansans would call him a "bull shit artist."

DeCoss will likely be appointed as Municipal Judge since the City Manager makes that call, but, if his reputation is being tarnished a bit, it's due to guilt by association.