To the editor:

Earth to city council; with the recent departure of city manager Doug Schultze and the kerfuffle of keeping Morgan Smith in the interim position, I have some advice to the city council.

Don’t conduct an expensive nationwide search for a new city manager. Don’t even conduct a statewide search. Look locally.

There are plenty of talented people on our island. How many times have we hired someone from afar with no loyalty to the island who used us as a stepping stone to another job? How many times have we spent big bucks on far-flung searches with short-term results? How many times do we make the same mistake until we hire someone local who is already familiar with local issues and doesn’t have to spend umpteen months or years learning what makes Bainbridge tick?

City council, learn from past mistakes, don’t repeat them.

GARY PETTERSEN

Bainbridge Island