Politics & Government

Paderewski Censured Due to Supervisor Run

A board acting for a municipal management group voted for censure. Paderewski states that she left the group.

A municipal management group announced that its executive board decided to censure New Castle Town Administrator Penny Paderewki and to bar her from membership.

The International City/County Management Association made its announcement in a press release went Tuesday to local journalists. The reason for the decision was due to Paderewski's run for New Castle Supervisor, which included campaigning and getting the endorsement from the New Castle Democratic Committee. The ICMA contends that her action violated its code of ethics. 

The code states: "Tenet 7. Refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators. Refrain from participation in the election of the members of the employing legislative body."

Regarding Paderewski, the group's announcement stated: "The commitment to political neutrality is the hallmark principle of the local government management profession. Professional managers have a responsibility to make objective, independent recommendations and decisions, and to serve all members of the community equally. It is incompatible for ICMA members to serve as a city, town, or county manager and also be engaged in partisan political activity such as running for elected public office. Ms. Paderewski should have resigned her appointed office before commencing her campaign for elected office."

Asked for comment, Paderewski was not concerned about the censure. She also noted that she left the ICMA because she was going to run.

Paderewski lost the election, which was held last month, to opponent Rob Greenstein, who ran on a ticket called Team New Castle and had the Republican and Independence Party ballot lines. A New Castle town employee for about 27 years and in various jobs, Paderewski is retiring at the end of this month.


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