Has Peru actually become an equal opportunity employer? Are patronage and clout on the way out?

It was mentioned at a recent council meeting that there were more than seventy-two applications recieved in response to the recent public posting for a position in the public works department. I have to think that there are some very well qualified applicants in that bunch. Also, the Electric Department will be seeking a Journeyman Line-Man very soon. What an amazing contrast in hiring practices there is in comparison to anytime in the history of Peru. The only fair hiring procedure Peru has ever practiced has been for police officers and firefighters. And only then because of state and federal hiring laws requiring municipalities to establish fair and honest procedures. Don't think for a minute that some present and former elected officials in Peru would not have attempted to influence the hiring of cops and firemen if they had the opportunity to do so. Consider the possibile cast of characters we might have protecting us from crime and mayhem if the old time "Powerbrokers" like Baker, Kowalczyk, O'Beirne, Kolowski, Nowakowski, Frederickson and some others had been free to use patronage, nepotism, and clout in deciding who would be added to the city payroll. As a matter of fact, I'm sure Baker was probably mayor before the police and firemen hiring laws were inacted. It must have been quite a shock for Don to have to "refrain" from hiring all the cops and firemen in town. An old-time politician could wield a hell of a lot of power and influence having hired every cop on the payroll. Unfortunately, there have never been any laws regulating the hiring of any other municipal employees. That enabled Baker and other influential insiders in Peru to continue to hire by their own "special standards". No application process. No interview process. No hiring process, just back room deals. You need only have relations, not qualifications. It is refreshing to finally see a fair and impartial process of hiring in Peru. We have already come a long way in terms of doing some things right. I have to admit that despite the method in which most current employees made their way onto the city payroll, there are some extraordinarily talented individuals among them. But, because of the refusal of those old time politicians to establish a "legitimate hiring process" there are equally as many current city employees who can only be described as overpayed and underskilled. Also, we need to be aware that just having a hiring process in place will not assure a quality hire. There is still the possibility of "human interference". Example: Committee Chairmen will be allowed input on new hires that will work in the departments those aldermen oversee. Unfortunately, that means there will be opportunities for guys like my pal Jack O'Beirne to corrupt the process. But I think even Jack will have a hard time screwing this up. He will likely just nod off during the interviews while daydreaming about how he and Don "yoosta do all da hirin' of da guys". Good ol' days......My ass!