New mayor makes appointments

The department heads selected this week by Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher include Republicans, Democrats, holdovers and new faces.

“It’s extremely important to me that the community knows that diversity does matter to me. I have to fix that so that our equity scorecard looks better. And I’m passionate about doing that,” said Buscher.

Buscher said the previous administration fell short in making city government’s workforce reflect the diversity of Springfield.

“I’m committed to promoting a woman into the police department’s command staff, and I’d like to see an African American promoted to sergeant,” she said.

There currently are no Black officers holding supervisory rank within the department.

Although Buscher is calling for personnel changes within the police department, she is keeping Chief Kenneth Scarlette at the helm. Scarlette, who has been with the department since 1998, was appointed chief last year by then-mayor Jim Langfelder.

“My campaign had a very strong relationship with the (Police Benevolent and Protective Association), which is their local union,” said Buscher. “And the union truly believes in Kenny Scarlette and really wanted Kenny Scarlette as our chief. So, happy first responders are good first responders, and I want them to be happy. I told him, your sworn men and women of the police department have chosen you as our chief, so you’re my chief.”

The fire department, on the other hand, has a new chief. Buscher appointed Ed Canny, who has been with the department since 1997. His most recent assignments were as a division chief and captain. He replaces Brandon Blough, who is retiring.

“He has been the deputy chief of fire safety for quite a while, and I moved him up to fire chief,” said Buscher. “His father was a firefighter. His father has passed away, but I knew his father way back. His brother, Mike Kenny is a firefighter. They’ve been in the department a very, very long time. I’ve just known them a long time, and I thought Chief Canny and I had the same vision.”

Buscher selected Dave Fuchs to head the department of public works. Fuchs is a prominent Sangamon County Democrat who supported Langfelder in the April election.

Although Springfield municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, Buscher identifies as a Republican and Langfelder as a Democrat.

Fuchs said he was stunned when Buscher approached him about taking the job.

“I knew who she was, and we have a lot of mutual associations. So, I was familiar with her. She said when she was knocking on doors that one of the biggest comments that she got most often was people were just so sick and tired of the partisan divisiveness.”

Fuchs, who lives outside the Springfield city limits, said he is looking for a home in Springfield in order to comply with the city’s residency requirements.

Fuchs replaces Nate Bottom, who will move into a different role with Public Works.

“Director Bottom will now be Chief City Engineer Bottom,” said Buscher. “He is an amazing engineer, and is so good at all of our big projects. He was burning the candle at both ends, trying to run the department and be the ‘people person.’ So, when I met with him, I said, ‘I want to empower you to just be the great engineer you are.’ Let’s let someone else run the agency and handle the people and the problems that we get with complaints and take that off of you. Chief City Engineer Bottom has three small children. I know he’s not home a lot, and that bothers me.”

Buscher said Bottom will continue to answer directly to the mayor’s office in regards to major projects.

City Comptroller Ramona Metzger has been appointed to head the Office of Budget and Management.

“She’s very familiar with the position and the department, and her philosophy and mine align,” Buscher said. “We’re both very, very conservative people when it comes to money. And we both want a lot of documentation on checks and balances.”

Ethan Posey will head the community relations department.

“Ethan worked with District 186 most recently. He’s got a background in counseling and guidance. So, he will be amazing at community relations. … Ethan’s already started reaching out and working on recruitment (for the fire department). So, he’s hit the ground running.”

Haley Wilson will replace Langfelder’s sister, Julia Frevert, as the city’s director of communications. She is currently serving as the assistant director of professional development for the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies and starts her new position on May 16.

“Haley has a communications background. This is what she went to school for. So, she’ll be great,” Buscher said.

Buscher has made temporary appointments to fill the positions of corporation counsel and director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development.

Val Yazell, who previously served as director of OPED but was fired by Langfelder, is now back in that role in an interim capacity. After losing her job, she became a leader in Buscher’s campaign. Buscher said she has identified someone who she wants to permanently fill the spot.

“(Val) doesn’t want a full-time job. I think she’s happy to come help out. That agency did not have anybody running it for over a year and a half. It was left without a director,” said Buscher. Langfelder hired Lynne Wooden for the position beginning Aug. 1, immediately following her retirement from Illinois National Bank.

“I wanted Val to come in because it had been two years that (the department has gone) without someone with an economic development background. I want her to analyze the agency and give me some advice before we put a new director in there,” said Buscher.

Steve Rahn, the city of Springfield’s senior corporation counsel, is filling in as interim corporation counsel until a permanent replacement is named. The position was previously held by Jim Zerkle, a close confidant of Langfelder’s.

“I’m in discussions with someone right now for Corporation Counsel, and because of their employment, we had to keep that private,” Buscher said.

Mike Disco is Buscher’s chief of staff. “I worked for Lancaster Bingo, selling bingo and pull tabs for 23 years,” he said.

Buscher added, “He has known my husband longer than I have. … And he is a very good friend. I knew he would be loyal. With a chief of staff, you need someone who’s going to be loyal. One of the qualities that struck me the most about him is he’s very level headed. He doesn’t get excited.  He doesn’t react quickly to anything. He’s very, very calm, and that is something I will need in the chief of staff.”

Scott Dahl will continue to lead the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Also, Doug Brown, who was chief utility engineer for City Water Light and Power under Langfelder, will continue in that role under Buscher.

A press release sent out May 8, Buscher’s first day in office, did not mention the status of the directors for Lincoln Library, the human resources office or Oak Ridge Cemetery. However, Lashonda Fitch said that day was her last serving as executive director of Oak Ridge Cemetery.

“It was a privilege and honor to serve our community as the first Black executive director at Oak Ridge Cemetery. I served for three years and nine months under the leadership of Mayor Jim Langfelder. At this time, I do not have any further comments,” she said in a written statement to Illinois Times.

Disco said that interim appointments would be forthcoming for that position and a human resources director.

This article appears in The micropantry movement.