Today, much of Edge's job as a county administrator involves giving answers to people who are confused about the way a program or government office works. Edge says he receives calls all the time from people who have a question regarding a city in SLO County and don't know what government agency to turn to. With the Board of Supervisors, Edge says his advising begins when new supervisors first take office and are disappointed to discover how little power they have in allocating the budget. With the portion that the county is able to make decisions about, Edge would like to see more public interaction, more of a chance to redeem his profession by working with the community. A lot of people don't trust the government.
Edge believes it lies in an accountability spurred by communication.
And, of course, it can't hurt to blow the noisemaker on those indulging in floccinaucinihilipilification. Lea Aschkenas is never late for a staff meeting. Pick up New Times at over 600 locations in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties.