Step right up ladies and gentlemen; the Great Falls International Airport Authority Board has added more fuel to the circus atmosphere in Great Falls by not selecting the current airport director, Cynthia Schultz, for an interview.  They selected four men to interview.

I’m sure most of my readers are probably saying to themselves, “What the…?”  Rest assured I feel the same way.

Of course, I must offer my humble opinion about the latest shenanigans from this mismanaged circus called the Great Falls International Airport Authority Board.

First, this is payback at its worst in this “good old boy” community – kind of what the Board must hope is the final smack-down of Schultz.  Even the Great Falls Tribune story quotes one of the Board members kind of alluding to the fact they were ticked off at director Schultz.  It’s probably a bad mistake for that Board member to be so “open” and “honest” for a change.  But when you have mismanaged the whole affair, what’s a little more mismanagement.

Second, the community should be outraged by the actions of a board that has, by many accounts, gone completely off the deep end and placed a dark blemish on the community.  Almost everyone contends their actions have hampered the business climate for current and prospective businesses – and good candidates to work in those businesses.

Like I said before, it’s hard to imagine that any qualified person would want to work for the current Great Falls International Airport Authority Board.  This Board spent $35,000 of taxpayer money to hire a company to find the next director.

Third, this Board seems so blinded by their hatred and desire to “get Cynthia” that they have tarnished this community for years.  They wanted to get her no matter what the cost.  About the only thing left to decide is what that cost will be.

It’s a hell of a way to treat one of your own, Great Falls.  Are you proud?

Schultz seems to be more qualified than all that were selected for interviews, as I did not see any “director-type” experience from three of the four candidates, although they have titles called deputy, assistant, and manager.  I think the Board is looking for a follower, not a leader – someone they can micromanage and someone who will get them a cup of coffee with a smile and a wink and most importantly overlook conflicts.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame the candidates for trying to better themselves, but they really need to understand the mess they are getting into with this current board.  I’m sure most of them can read and do research (they can always contact me at my Western Word address for my two cents).  I’m sure some outraged community members will voice their concerns during the public meetings.

One thing is for sure, they won’t do a better job than what Schultz has done in her tenure as director.  That mountain is too steep to climb.

In previous commentary I’d asked for the elected officials (commissioners) of the City of Great Falls and Cascade County to fire the current Board members or for those Board members to voluntarily step down – to bring some calm to the storm.  Of course, it did not happen because this is the “good old boy” network at its finest.  Since that has not been the case, the best thing those who are fed-up with it can do is not vote for the elected people who appoint the Board members – starting with the County race this November.

Plus, the people who don’t agree with the Board’s decision can urge their vast network of friends to vote against the other current officeholders when they come up for re-election.

I won’t frequent the businesses owned or managed by the Board members, either.

That’s our freedom and I, for one, will be sure to use it.

In closing, one thing I will be sure to do is pray for the Schultz family.  I hope you will, too.  This whole situation has probably been a terrible ordeal for them as they are home-grown and it must be quite a burden to have your name, not to mention your career, dragged through the mud by some in the community – a community that you worked so hard to promote and make a better place for all to live and work.