1. Empower governors. Let them hire and fire the directors of
nearly all state agencies, including those now overseen by the
elected education superintendent, agriculture commissioner and
adjutant general, and hold them responsible for the results.
This would allow governors to carry out the agenda on which
voters elected them. Real gubernatorial authority will attract a
more competent class of candidates. 2. Consolidate agencies. We
have more than 70 agencies in the executive branch of
government: six that deliver health services; five responsible
for natural resources and environmental programs; four that
handle jobs and economic development. We have 33 colleges and,
in a state with just 46 counties, 85 school districts, some with
fewer than 1,000 students. This wastes money and makes
coordination and efficient management impossible. 3. Empower
local governments. The power to appoint county-level officials
should be turned over to county councils, or else, as with
elections, the local entities should be abo