That new Republican broom turns out to be just another version of the corrupt cronyism broom that the Republicans used to say was the sole province of the Democratic Party.
Good story today in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette by Michael Wickline on an illegal secret vote by a state board to hire Republican politico Alan Pogue of Sherwood to a fat, light-duty job as executive director of state Board of Examiners in Counseling. Even some Republican legislators objected to the original idea to push Pogue's fat pay up to $80,000, against the $65,000 paid the long-time director who was shoved out to create a job for Pogue (who had been a member of the board that hired him.) He's going to have to settle for $75,000, still 15 percent more than the his trained, experienced predecessor. Plus, the office of the agency is going to be moved from Magnolia to Little Rock to make it more convenient.
Rep. Jim Nickels of Sherwood observed in the article that it looked like Republicans were creating a job for one of their failed candidates. Pogue opposed him for re-election last year. And here comes the kicker:
But state Rep. Andrea Lea, R-Russellville, said she didn’t recall that Pogue ran against Nickels last November until after the legislative council’s personnel subcommitteee made its recommendation to pay Pogue a $75,000 salary, and she doesn’t recall who told her about it.
Andrea Lea. Remember her? She's running for state auditor since she's run out of public teat-sucking time in the House. She promises to bring integrity to state government.
So here's the public record. Pogue's campaign finance reports show Lea gave $200 to help his race against Nickels in July 2012.
How easily we forget. Or, maybe, how easy it is to fib. You choose. Forgetful or dishonest isn't a high recommendation for an auditor.