No student interns for council members

A recent inquiry from a student at Sonoma Valley High School prompted Mayor Stanley Cohen to bring the possibility of unpaid internships before the city council at its meeting last week. Such internship programs in local government help young people considering career positions as administrators, managers, or elected officials and might also aid city work load at no additional expense.
Acknowledging that his own years of public service began as a high school intern, outgoing Sonoma City Manager Mike Fuson told the council that his problem with interns is lack of direct oversight. “Support for council members is provided by the city staff under the direction of the city manager, not by employees or interns assigned to the elected officials,” Fuson said.
Council members Ken Brown and Steve Barbose recalled the excellent candidate forum held at the high school during the last campaign. “When fully motivated and engaged, high school students are so intellectual,” Barbose said. “Contributing to this process proves and acknowledges a desire to tap their enthusiasm.”
Council member Joanne Sanders stated her wholehearted support for the internship program and was concerned that the matter was being dodged. Fuson explained that legal liabilities may arise from what an intern may say as an official statement on behalf of the city. “They think they’re equal to the city attorney or to me,” Fuson said. “It’s about who’s giving that person direction – I want them under my supervision.”
Mayor Cohen agreed. “I took a simplistic view of the internship program at first – I’m not as supportive as I once was,” Cohen said. “It’s that one verbal slip that can cause the problem.”
No action was taken to implement such a program at this time. Mick Chantler, the Sonoma Valley High School Work Experience Coordinator, told the Sun that in his 30 years of counseling, he has helped students find internships at many local businesses and non-profits, but didn’t recall any with the city council.