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"A collaborative political resource." |
Friends hire friends: Lee Fisher has a developing problem
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Candidate
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| Contributor | None Entered |
| Last Edited | None Entered Jun 07, 2007 04:48pm |
| Category | Editorial |
| News Date | Jun 07, 2007 04:00pm |
| Description | In May, Lee Fisher made a passionate case for hiring the best and the brightest at the state Department of Development. The lieutenant governor who also serves as the development director explained to the Senate Finance & Financial Institutions Committee that he sought to hire staff members at higher salaries because the office must compete for talent with the private sector. He added the familiar counsel: ``The best organizations focus on getting the right people on the right seats on the right bus.''
What explains the hiring of Frankie Coleman, the wife of Michael Coleman, the mayor of Columbus?
The Cleveland Plain Dealer and others have recounted recently her receiving a $70,000-a-year job in the Development Department. She has fitting credentials, having served as the executive director of the Private Industry Council and in the job training partnership division of state government. The trouble is, Coleman revealed through e-mails that once hired, she had little idea what she was supposed to do. She said she didn't even have a job title.
An episode of understandable confusion during the transition from one administration to another?
The troubles deepen. News reports have relayed concerns about Coleman claiming full work weeks when other records suggest she hasn't appeared at the office. Even Fisher admits to worries about her attendance. The person who blew the whistle was Coleman's supervisor, a Republican holdover at the department. The supervisor says she was fired two days after raising questions.
All of this is now in the hands of the state inspector general. He will look at the timesheets and examine the treatment of the supervisor.
Political patronage is nothing new, Democrats and Republicans always looking to hire allies for such unclassified positions. They also may be qualified. What really should worry Lee Fisher is the risk to his credibility. He has talked boldly and hopefully about energizing the Department of Development, bringin |
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