Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

Deval Patrick's hackapalooza
Four Patrick administration staffers land in big-bucks gigs
The Boston Herald, 4/2/09
By Hillary Chabot

Gov. Deval Patrick has stashed four staffers in big-bucks jobs at several of the quasi-public agencies he is now vowing to reform - including one post worth a jaw-dropping $190,000 a year, the Herald has learned.

Patrick ordered up a probe of salaries at quasi-public agencies last week as taxpayer outrage peaked over his tapping of Sen. Marian Walsh for a long-vacant $175,000-a-year post with the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

But four Patrick administration staffers have landed at quasi-public agencies:

Pat Cloney, a former director under Patrick's administration at the Massachusetts office of business development, as the $190,000-a-year interim executive director at a newly created agency called the Clean Energy Center.

Michael Morris, Patrick's legislative liaison, as the $119,000a-year public relations director at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

Edwin Carr, former chief of staff at the economic development department, as the $110,000-a-year executive director at the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment.

Chuck Anderson, who served as Patrick's policy director, as a $95,000-a-year senior adviser with the Massachusetts Technology Collaboration.

"I guess the dirty little secret in Massachusetts is that these quasis aren't independent at all. They are very much taking their cues from the governor's office," said Sen. Richard R. Tisei (R-Wakefield). "These are plum patronage positions that the governor has at his disposal."

Walsh, a Patrick political backer, abandoned her post Tuesday.

Administration officials defended the other appointments.

Cloney was appointed to his post at the Clean Energy Center in December. Created as part of the Green Jobs Act in 2008, the agency authorizes state grants for non-profits working on clean-energy technology.

There were no other candidates for the position, said Robert Keough, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and Cloney was selected by a board including key Patrick Cabinet members.

Cloney's position was created by the Legislature, but the statute, which Patrick signed in 2008, did not specify the salary.

Cloney worked previously as vice president at Susquehanna Capital Management, where he managed four portfolio companies, and as a partner at Clear Power Ventures, where he focused on early stage energy.

At the MWRA, administration officials noted that Morris is paid thousands less than the previous public relations director. Officials called Carr's business development appointment a lateral move. The salary is equal to Carr's former post.

At MassTech, spokeswoman Emily Dahl said the agency received "zero pressure from the governor's office to hire Mr. Anderson. He has a unique combination of state policy experience and expertise in international law. He was perfect for this job and we are lucky to have him."

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