The duties of the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority are summed up by its name. It is responsible for providing quality water to city residents and operating the city's sewer system. This is professional work involving a serious responsibility.

Unfortunately, the authority does not function with complete professional detachment. While it is ostensibly independent of government, politicians are members of its board. So there's a risk that something else may be added to the authority's description: safe haven for politicos.

That appears to be the case in the hiring of former Councilman Len Bodack Jr. as maintenance supervisor at a salary of $56,000. Now, it may be that Mr. Bodack is the best maintenance supervisor in town. More likely, he was just Johnny-on-the-spot when the job came up, a friend of all who had the connections. After all, he moved from a seat on the authority's board to get the job. We have no personal grudge against Mr. Bodack, who is entitled to earn a living. But couldn't he earn it in the private sector? Is a former politician good for nothing but working for the water authority or another agency ultimately supported by the public?

Not likely, not in Pittsburgh with its tradition of politically influenced employment. Mr. Bodack, who was on council for four years before being defeated last year, was an old-fashioned politician like his father, former state Sen. Len Bodack Sr. After losing his council seat, junior sought to win a state House seat but lost in the primary.

The old-fashioned way of Pittsburgh was all about finding happy grazing grounds for political animals, their friends and family. Unfortunately, that culture, largely one of the Democratic Party, helped bring Pittsburgh to the brink of ruin.

Will this city ever learn? Direct your inquiries to the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority.