The Examiner was first to report today that Metro has chosen a new GM, and while nothing is official yet, all indications point to Richard Sarles keeping his current, interim job on a permanent basis. The article is at http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/01/metro-board-reaches-consensus-next-gm-member-says.
Let's assume Sarles is the pick. It seems as if Sarles has been a good GM so far, though I'm a bit concerned about his age. Do we want to be looking for another GM in just a few years? Is a succession plan going to be put in place now? What if a key to that plan leaves for some reason? Also, I recall him adamantly not wanting the job permanently. Does anyone else recall this and if so, any hypothesis on why his mind changed?
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on January 19, 2011, 02:10:20 PM
The Examiner was first to report today that Metro has chosen a new GM, and while nothing is official yet, all indications point to Richard Sarles keeping his current, interim job on a permanent basis. The article is at http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/01/metro-board-reaches-consensus-next-gm-member-says.
Let's assume Sarles is the pick. It seems as if Sarles has been a good GM so far, though I'm a bit concerned about his age. Do we want to be looking for another GM in just a few years? Is a succession plan going to be put in place now? What if a key to that plan leaves for some reason? Also, I recall him adamantly not wanting the job permanently. Does anyone else recall this and if so, any hypothesis on why his mind changed?
$$$: the only reason.
Do you have a source on that or is it your hunch? You think he was willing to work for less than the other candidates, or the thought of earning money enticed him to stay on? From what I know, it sounds like he had a pretty complete career and had to be lured out of retirement to do this job in the first place.
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on January 19, 2011, 04:31:12 PM
Do you have a source on that or is it your hunch? You think he was willing to work for less than the other candidates, or the thought of earning money enticed him to stay on? From what I know, it sounds like he had a pretty complete career and had to be lured out of retirement to do this job in the first place.
To quote one of the commenters at GGW, " He'll be around just long enough to collect a pension and cash out before the next disaster hits and then we'll be looking for a new General Manager again without having made any significant changes." They also seem to think that Sarles will merely maintain the status quo and "[lead to] further stasis and decay" and that "perhaps the silver lining will be that the federal government steps in after the death spiral really takes hold.
Metro needs someone who will shake up feathers with Annapolis and Richmond (for increased and/or dedicated funding) and will be brave enough to stand up to ATU 689 to negotiate new contracts that won't cripple and bankrupt WMATA or force them to put felons back to work. Sarles has proven neither to me.
Quote from: Scrabbleship on January 19, 2011, 04:37:50 PM
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on January 19, 2011, 04:31:12 PM
Do you have a source on that or is it your hunch? You think he was willing to work for less than the other candidates, or the thought of earning money enticed him to stay on? From what I know, it sounds like he had a pretty complete career and had to be lured out of retirement to do this job in the first place.
To quote one of the commenters at GGW, " He'll be around just long enough to collect a pension and cash out before the next disaster hits and then we'll be looking for a new General Manager again without having made any significant changes." They also seem to think that Sarles will merely maintain the status quo and "[lead to] further stasis and decay" and that "perhaps the silver lining will be that the federal government steps in after the death spiral really takes hold.
Metro needs someone who will shake up feathers with Annapolis and Richmond (for increased and/or dedicated funding) and will be brave enough to stand up to ATU 689 to negotiate new contracts that won't cripple and bankrupt WMATA or force them to put felons back to work. Sarles has proven neither to me.
I won't go that far, but I did think one of the advantages to an interim GM who wouldn't be under consideration for the permanent position would be that such a person could make big decisions without fear that a bad decision might impact his chances of getting the job long term. Sarles didn't really seem to do that. He doesn't seem to be as big a public figure as other recent GMs, which I'm fine with I think, but he doesn't seem to be a powerful figure.
I'm wondering if all the board turnover played into this decision too. One less position to turnover if the interim GM stays around in a permanent capacity a bit longer.
I'm interested in what Dr. Gridlock thinks of this development once it becomes official, especially in terms of the long term future of Metro.
Thing is, a General Manager is not supposed to be a public figure. A General Manager is supposed to ... generally, manage. And a lot of things are happening at WMATA behind the scenes that I think will be more apparent to the public as they take effect. Status quo? I don't know.
But is he getting things done quietly behind the scenes? It seems to me that the jury is still out.
Quote from: Tristan on January 20, 2011, 11:39:00 AM
Thing is, a General Manager is not supposed to be a public figure. A General Manager is supposed to ... generally, manage. And a lot of things are happening at WMATA behind the scenes that I think will be more apparent to the public as they take effect. Status quo? I don't know.
General managers by nature are seen as the face of the front office and are the most convenient scapegoat if something goes wrong. Seems like the theory of "blame the GM for failure" that permeates sports teams has spread over to transit and an agency that has brewing problems seem to have the most visible GM's though not by design.