'Jobs are hard to find': Voters want to hear how 12th District candidates plan ...
Hipskind, the mother of three grown children, pulled her jacket tight against the steady wind as she pondered the scarcity of decent jobs in St. Clair County, where unemployment hovers at 10.3 percent.
Is there anything she would like to tell the six candidates vying for the 12th District Republican and Democratic nominations in the March 20 primary?
"Just make it better for people to find jobs," Hipskind said. "It just has to get better somehow."
Hipskind speaks for plenty of voters in the 12th District, whose 12 counties -- ranging from a sliver of Madison County at the northern edge and Alexander County in the extreme south -- have posted a combined average jobless rate of about 9.8 percent, mirroring the statewide average as of December, state figures show.
The contenders -- three Democrats and three Republicans -- are asking voters to choose them to replace U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, who is stepping down as the district congressman after 23 years.
The six candidates offer plenty of ideas for fixing the 12th District's economy, as well as the state's and nation's -- prescriptions aimed at boosting job growth after a recession that's hit young people the hardest.
Nationwide, the employment rate for young workers has hit its lowest ebb in 60 years. Just 54 percent of adults ages 18 to 24 have a job, according to a study released Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
These numbers resonate for Hipskind. Her 21-year-old daughter is stuck working a low-paying part-time job at a roller rink, she said.
"I always keep telling her to find something better somewhere," Hipskind said. "But there aren't any better jobs."
For Chris Miller, a Democrat from Carbondale, the key to creating new jobs will lie in stitching together a comprehensive energy strategy for the 12th District, a blueprint that encompasses everything from plans for exploiting fossil fuels such natural gas and coal, to developing renewable energy such as wind and solar power.
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Management Consultant to the Utilities Director at City of Bellevue in ...
The City of Bellevue Utilities Department is currently recruiting for a Management Consultant to the Director. The Utilities Department is responsible for providing water, wastewater, storm drainage, street maintenance and solid waste services for the City of Bellevue. This position provides advance- professional consultancy experience in support of the Director and/or Deputy Director, and for the Departments executive team on a variety of special projects involving qualitative and quantitative research, policy development, and program administration. The successful candidates will have a sound background in utility business line consultancy work, research, analytics, program evaluation as well as personnel management. This position will work with the departments leadership to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of business lines, products and services; and will play a key role in strategic planning, business process improvement and organizational development. The position will also administers department-wide programs such as employee professional development and training, employee safety, workload planning, American Public Works Association accreditation, grant coordination, and standard operating procedures. Independently leads a variety of projects for the Department, including but not limited to Accreditation, business process improvements, department strategic initiatives, asset management and implementation of citywide initiatives. Responsible/accountable for seeing projects from conception to implementation. Develops project scope and schedule, and makes recommendations for team composition. Responsible for coordination with organizations outside the department, and if necessary, with agencies outside the City of Bellevue. Develops requests for proposals, manages contract and budget, and oversees consultant for projects requiring professional services.