As a member of the search committee (like Brendan Kiley), I'm bound by confidentiality in saying too much. What I can say is that I agree with you, Jen: we need to "give the man a chance." We interviewed some amazing people and we agreed on who to forward onto the Mayor. While every interview process has its constraints, if Vincent Kitch is the guy who showed up in that interview room, then we are about to see a new era at OACA.

Working as an artist, an arts advocate and a public art administrator, I care deeply that the Director of OACA has the necessary bureaucratic skill set (and yes, it is a necessary skill set). I also want a down-to-earth, serious arts fanatic to help reveal everything that’s going on + all of our collective potential. But you know what? It isn’t the job of one person to pull this off - we need to pull together to reinvigorate Seattle’s reputation for collaboration and innovation. Let's start by giving Vincent a chance to show up and show us what he's about, and give him a chance to learn something about the artists, organizers and critics who contribute so much of themselves to making Seattle the place we want to be.

Cheryl dos Remedios

Those are some very legitimate concerns. You should keep asking questions. I think the best way to describe his working style is "delusions of grandeur." I can't believe he is being described as a diplomat. The funding program was revamped by the department heads and his staff implemented it. He did nothing out of the ordinary, and he takes all the credit for some mythical, heroic process. That's his M.O.