Thursday, 25 September 2008
The Crony Express Rolls Onward
Beshear continues to make good on his promise to take care of his own. Apparently there is always one more spot in his administration for another crony.
Gov. Steve Beshear has put another Democratic Party activist on the state payroll with the title "policy adviser."
Last week, Wayne B. Gunnell of Eminence was named a $55,000-a-year policy adviser in the Revenue Department, under Finance and Administration Secretary Jonathan Miller, who until recently was the chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party.
Gunnell is vice chairman of the Henry County Democratic Party. He also was a magistrate on the Henry County Fiscal Court, where — according to published accounts — he helped to decide questions about garbage collection, humane treatment at the county animal shelter, a smoking ban and picking a location for a new airport.
In his political donations, Gunnell has listed his occupation as production worker at the General Electric plant in Louisville. He has given about $5,000 in recent years, including $1,000 to Beshear's campaign for the 2007 general election, although he was a supporter of former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry before Henry's defeat in the Democratic primary.
I like the fact that the Herald Leader writer use the term "another" to describe this hire. Is that a bit of sarcasm? I think it is awesome that reporters who are covering the Beshear administration's penchant for hiring cronies have apparently noticed the trend. I have some advice for Beshear. I know you are still going around the state looking for some ideas on what to do next. But in the mean time, you may want to change up your hiring practices a bit. When your hires become a joke to your allies in the media then maybe just maybe you have gone a bit to far in taking care of your buddies. Maybe it is time to look for fresh blood in future hires.
