Taking another look

Two men seeking to become director of the Department of Human Services apparently remain in the running for the job. Yet DHS commissioners agreed this week to use a search firm to find more candidates. That can’t leave Eric Bost and Ed Lake feeling confident in their chances. Bost, former head of the DHS in Texas, and Lake, who spent four decades at Tennessee’s DHS, were the last two applicants standing after commissioners conducted an initial search on their own. Commissioners and Gov. Mary Fallin interviewed the two men earlier this month. This renewed effort to find a director means a feeling exists that a better fit is out there. It also makes it a long shot that commissioners will find their man or woman by their July 1 target date. Deliberation is needed in filling this important job. But how much? DHS needs strong, permanent leadership at the top, preferably sooner rather than later.

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