Life as Edward Jensen

The following editorial appeared in Thursday’s edition of The Arizona Republic.  It was written by Dr. Debra Friedman, the University Vice President of the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus and the Dean of the College of Public Programs.

The College is shepherding the Spirit of Service Scholars program, a bold initiative that will honor 30 outstanding graduate and undergraduate students each year who will commit their future careers to federal, state and local government and non-profit organizations in service of solving society’s most challenging problems.

Help wanted: Seeking the next icons of city government.

Why should you care that Frank Fairbanks is retiring?

Ask yourself: Who actually runs your city? Your county? Your state?

As Phoenix’s city manager ends his 37-year career of public service for the city, it’s important to consider what this transition signifies for our community and nation.

Federal, state and municipal governments are facing a major challenge: Experienced public managers of the Baby Boom generation, like Fairbanks, are retiring or soon plan to do so. And, more than ever, fewer younger professionals are in line and prepared to step into those critical roles.

Even Phoenix’s No. 2 city staffer, Alton Washington, said he plans to follow his longtime boss into retirement soon.

Fewer public administrators means a diminished cadre of qualified people to oversee essential services like public safety, water resources, waste disposal, parks, human services and others. It means potentially dramatic impacts in areas like budgets, taxes, transportation, housing, education, labor and the environment.

Among the nation’s full-time federal workforce, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management reports that nearly 61 percent will be eligible to retire by 2016. The Center for Excellence in State and Local Government reports that 34 percent of state government workers and 36 percent of local government workers are 50 or older.

This inevitable exodus means the overall quality of life in communities throughout the nation may well suffer from an inability to meet urgent public needs.

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-Edward Jensen