Let us now praise a bureaucrat who has more than a title on the door and a rug on the floor; this one leads Arkansas to new heights. Yes, it can be done, and Mike Preston has been doing it for a couple of years now as director of Arkansas' economic development--ever since he left Florida, where he accomplished a similar feat for Enterprise Florida, an alliance of leaders in business and government much like this state's Economic Development Commission; he came here with a good record and has made it an outstanding one since. And he's been given a mighty big bonus for all of his success. The papers got word of it last week and duly reported it.
"The bonus structure was part of the original employment contract with Director Preston. His performance is reviewed each year, and any approved bonus is paid by the AEDC Foundation," Governor and job-generator-in-chief Asa Hutchinson noted. "His performance has continued to excel in every category, and that is the reason the bonus was approved."
"I hope we are having this conversation next year," says Gus Vratsinas, who's chairman of the foundation, "because that means there has been a lot of activity." There certainly has been in Arkansas.
Let's go over what the governor calls a partial list:
• Last year, the state won 82 competitive projects.
• Those projects resulted in more than 4,000 jobs.
• Those jobs averaged $21.55 an hour.
• Capital investments went up $1.3 billion or so.
• The state's done even better if you go back to 2015.
• Oh, and take another look at the state's unemployment rate, which is below 4 percent.
Governor Hutchinson should know who's doing what in economic development in this state, since together he and Mike Preston have gone overseas on recruiting trips, held untold number of business meetings, and generally have been cheerleaders for business from Texarkana to Piggott: "Throughout Director Preston's tenure, I have been impressed by his professionalism, determination, focus, energy and character. He has poured himself into Arkansas and has gone the extra mile every day to assure that our state is an economic engine for growth and increased opportunities for Arkansans."
So who could hold a grudge that Mr. Preston received a $50,000-plus bonus? Not us. It's called merit pay in some circles. It's not always wise for government to try to copy private business practices, but every now and then it's simply grand. Or 50 grand.
It's as if government workers were human, too. And can be motivated by money, and the recognition that comes with a job well done. If we could only convince more education leaders that teachers are human, too, and can be motivated like any other human being.
The only semi-sour note was sounded by Joyce Elliott, a state senator from Little Rock who, even while saying Mr. Preston's bonus was "fine" with her, had to add that "I don't really think that's a good way to compensate public employees, especially if people get such measly merit bonuses [of up to 3 percent] as other state employees. I don't know that it had to be $50,000." Yep, you can always count on Senator Elliott to put a damper on the happiest occasions--the kind that should be celebrated by all.
But that's what even the finest public servants--like Mike Preston--can expect in the line of duty well done. Here's one public employee who's earned every penny of his bonus. If not more.
Editorial on 06/12/2017