Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 20, 1995 TAG: 9503200068
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The Department of Environmental Quality recently added the six to its staff of about 800, saying the workers filled critical needs. The six were originally hired last year to work temporary jobs.
But others say Allen's administration hired the employees because they are all Republican party loyalists. Some of the six hold positions in the GOP or have in the past, but others said in interviews that they are not active in the party.
Del. Kenneth Plum, D-Reston, said that while it's normal for gubernatorial appointees such as department heads and Cabinet members to be selected with an eye toward politics, the Republican governor's administration is pushing political patronage deeper than usual.
``I have a problem with taking jobs that ought to be reserved for the best and brightest, regardless of party, and putting political ideologues in there,'' said Plum, who has been at odds with Allen's environmental policies.
Allen has said he intends to shrink the environmental department while cutting regulations and making the agency more responsive to industry. About 100 people are expected to lose their jobs.
Some longtime state employees say they have never seen politics play such a major role in hirings below the level of deputy department director.
``It's unprecedented,'' one DEQ employee told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on condition of anonymity.
Most of the employees interviewed made no apologies for leaning to the right, saying they also were the most qualified people for the jobs. They said it's natural for the department to hire people who would want to implement the governor's initiatives.
by CNB