2nd Tale of Abuse of Power by Christie's Lt Go Kim Guadagno
Last edited Tue Jan 21, 2014, 10:36 AM - Edit history (1)
During the administration’s first year, 2010, the lieutenant governor for some unclear reason began a campaign to remove the executive director of the State Council on the Arts — a person hired and fired only by the council — and pointed to an alleged ethics violation: the director followed through on a request by a volunteer council member to have the state ethics division review a proposal to allow council members be able to request a second complimentary ticket when reviewing performances of organizations.
Just in passing, from my experience, non-profit companies generally respond favorably to providing tickets to funders, reviewers, and others involved with the mechanics of creating cultural activities. It is no big deal and business as usual, something an ex-sheriff may not understand.
The lieutenant governor seized on the request to create a stir, labeled the director and the council unethical for requesting “freebies,” and demanded a new director.
New Jersey Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan Jr.’s August 10, 2010, letter to the Star-Ledger provides some context: “The recent questioning of the integrity of the members of the state Council on the Arts by Lt. Gov. Guadagno was unnecessarily heavy-handed. I have heard rumors that several members are considering resigning from the council rather than risk being labeled as unethical. I ask Gov. Chris Christie to intervene and use some common sense. The members of the Council on the Arts are some of the finest citizens of our great state. They deserve to be treated with respect and decency.”
The result was bad blood between the lieutenant governor and the arts council. Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor turned her attention to other business, including Petty’s Run.
http://www.princetoninfo.com/index.php?option=com_us1more&Itemid=6&key=01-15-14guadagno
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