President Bush's Supreme

Court nominee is judge

John Roberts, a conservative Republican, and the obvious white male. That disappointed and surprised many on Capitol Hill who had expected the president to keep diversity in mind when selecting the life-long appointment to the nation's highest court. It remains to be seen how the nomination will play out before Congress.

Closer to home, Ed Chismar is resigning as cultural enrichment director after nearly nine years with the city of Rio Rancho. That leaves another vacancy under city administrator Jim Palenick. One has to wonder what the city administrator will do when replacing Chismar - if the new hire will be like the others Palenick has brought into the fold. Thus far, Palenick has hired Department of Public Safety police chief Robert Boone, public infrastructure director John Kolessar and development services director Jim Neblett, who resigned his post after one year on the job. His successor is Rob Anderson. Not only is he from Palenick's stomping grounds of Bay City, Mich., from where Palenick plucked Kolessar, but like Palenick, Kolessar, Boone and Neblett, Anderson is a white male.

We need less testosterone and more diversity.

Why have diversity in the workplace? Simple: It brings people together under one roof who are different, unlike in their character and qualities.

Palenick would do well to keep that in mind as he begins the hiring process anew.

He should consider a woman to be sure. There are a few women of influence in Sandoval County. A snapshot: Noreen Scott, director of economic development; Sue Cleveland, Rio Rancho Public Schools superintendent; county manager Debbie Hays and Angie Marchi, CEO for West Mesa Medical Center (WMMC). As a matter of fact, each has held her own. In 2003, for example, Marchi was responsible for a $15 million renovation and expansion project at WMMC and Cleveland heads up the second largest school district in the state.

Though Palenick does have a few women in position on his staff, he seemingly puts little credibility in their abilities. When Palenick leaves town, he appoints city attorney James Babin (another white male) as acting city manager. Never mind that Peggy McCarthy is his assistant.

Of course, the best candidate should be hired to replace Chismar. That goes without saying. It could be yet another white male, but for the sake of a bit more office diversity at city hall, let's hope not. Will Palenick think a bit more broadly this time? Will he consider a woman candidate, a minority or someone from the large and important Hispanic community this city, state and nation have to offer?

Time will tell, but let's hope Palenick does not ignore the obvious when making his final decision.