The man who coordinated the state's response to the environmental fallout from this year's spring floods has resigned. Ed Meggert was frustrated because bureaucratic issues made the oil spill response slow and disorganized. Earlier this summer, the federal government told the state to stop taking new clients in programs that supply home care attendants for people with disabilities and intensive medical needs. The feds took that drastic step because state oversight of the program was so inept.
Well past the Fourth of July, the winter's accumulation of sand and gravel along state-maintained roadways and sidewalks in Anchorage still had not been swept up. The state contracted out the job and botched it. A new, underequipped contractor severely underbid the job, and work lagged because the contract had no benchmarks to ensure timely progress.
Three different state departments, all with a similar problem: They have trouble performing a fairly basic task.
The work falls within obscure or boring areas of government that Alaskans just assume will be take care of properly. Making sure routine government tasks like these are done is part of a governor's job.
But in politics, there are what's known as "show horses" and "work horses." The former are quick to send out press releases or rush in front of TV cameras, but they disdain the hard work required to master issues and achieve results through the political process. "Work horses" are less interested in grabbing the limelight and know how to get things done.
By all accounts, newly installed Gov. Sean Parnell is a work horse, eager to attend to the details of state government.
That will be a welcome change.
BOTTOM LINE: Some parts of state government will benefit from the attention of a hands-on governor.