The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday did what neither candidate running for mayor wanted, which was to dump City Manager Howard Chan’s unresolved contract in the lap of whoever wins November’s mayoral election. Sacramento’s new mayor will have to deal with this mess at a December meeting normally reserved for family photos after a typically stress-free swearing-in ceremony.
It was a profile in cowardice by an elected city council frozen between being sick of dealing with Chan’s contract demands but also fearing the wrath of people backing Chan, the unelected manager with all the juice at Sacramento City Hall.
Pillars of Sacramento’s business community and a sizable contingent of city employees came to City Hall Tuesday afternoon in Chan’s defense, hoping he stays for at least another year. And it was clear from their comments that Chan is their leader, not the mayor and certainly not the council…