Kruzan to replace 3 staffers; final staff to be announced Tuesday

Mayor-elect Mark Kruzan will not officially take office until next month, but he has already begun making changes at City Hall. When Kruzan takes over for current Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez at the beginning of the new year, the mayor's staff will be absent of at least three people.\nKruzan announced last week three current staff members will be replaced when he takes office. He said he hopes to name the new staff members early this week and is excited about bringing in fresh minds.\n"My goal is to blend some new ideas with the more traditional way of doing things so we have a balanced city administration," he said.\nKruzan said he has been spending significant time since his Nov. 4 victory over Republican Fred Prall trying to create the best staff for the Bloomington. Kruzan will replace Director of Economic Development Maren McGrane, Corporation Counsel for the City Linda Runkle and City Utilities Director Mike Phillips. He notified all three of his decision in November.\nRunkle said she would have stayed on as part of the staff if asked, but is proud of what she is leaving for incoming staff members.\n"I thoroughly enjoyed the past eight years with Fernandez and I would be happy to continue," Runkle said. "But I recognize and understand that each new mayor has an opportunity to choose those people who work directly with them. We leave behind one of the best legal departments in the state and I think that will help make the transition much easier for the new corporation council."\nKruzan said he has been spending much of his time in meetings discussing potential new staff members.\n"I've spent the last month speaking with people who currently do the jobs and others I think would be well qualified to participate in city government," Kruzan said. "Those conversations have allowed me to hear the visions other individuals have and to determine if we all can join a team to jointly address Bloomington's needs."\nThe incoming staff members will play a big role in bringing change to Bloomington, Kruzan said.\n"The new members of the administration will bring new ideas to the overall team," he said, "As well as a renewed interest in public service that will change the way citizen concerns are addressed so that more people will feel like they have a say in local government."\nKruzan said he is looking for a number of specific characteristics in the new staff members, including a "trust that a person will work with the team, a customer-friendly attitude toward taxpayers, an enthusiasm for the job, and professionalism."\nMayor John Fernandez said he is confident that the change in administration will go well, but declined to comment on Kruzan's decision to release the three staff members. \n"We've had a lot of communication to try to make the transition as productive and helpful as possible," Fernandez said. "It's been a very smooth transition so far and I think things will continue to go smoothly."\n-- Contact staff writer Sarah Schwimmer at sschwimm@indiana.edu.