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No need to defend loyalty to city
Last Updated: July 12, 2018

Valley Center City Administrator Scott Hildebrand made a special effort last week to let the city council know he was happy he didn't get the city administrator job in Great Bend. In fact, he claims he was a “close second" in a three-way race because decision-makers in Great Bend appeared to question whether he really wanted to leave Valley Center.

“I love my current job," Hildebrand emphasized.

That may be the case, but we're left wondering why Hildebrand, who has been in Valley Center for a little over two years, felt the need to defend his honor so vociferously last week.

“Don't ever second-guess my dedication to Valley Center," he said during an off-agenda monologue at the July 3 city council meeting.

We weren't sure if he was directing that command to the council, to the press or to the public, because we have heard no one actually question his dedication — at least not out loud.

In fact, the city council has done nothing but praise Hildebrand for the job he's doing, especially with the new Community Center & Library.

Still, to further bolster his claim of allegiance and loyalty, Hildebrand said a recruiter hired by Great Bend contacted him about the job, meaning he wasn't even searching for a better situation. Of course, he had to physically apply, but that's a technicality.

Hildebrand said a Great Bend city employee he talked to more than a year ago about the “positive things" happening in Valley Center told the recruiter about him. It all just happened to him.

“Somebody simply asked," Hildebrand said. “They realized there was a passion and they simply asked."

Hildebrand has every right to advance his career. He's relatively young and energetic, and this is his first top city job. The truth is, if Hildebrand is looking to move up in city management, he has nowhere to go but elsewhere. We know that. He knows that. The city council knows that.

People can be great employees and still actively pursue advancements in their careers. It happens all the time. Hildebrand will find another job someday, and Valley Center will be OK.

Until then, Hildebrand should just let his actions make the case for him.

— The Ark Valley News




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