NEW: GOP Reps. Call for Removal of Highway Safety Chief

Monday, November 19, 2012

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Local legislators demanded the dismissal of State Highway Safety Chief Sheila Burgess on Monday, after revelations of political patronage, insufficient professional qualifications, and at least 34 driving violations on Burgess’ record.

Representatives Peter Durant (R-Spencer) Ryan Fattman (R- Sutton), Kevin Kuros (R- Uxbridge) are demanding Burgess’ dismissal and are requesting that the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight investigate and review the patronage hiring practices of the Patrick-Murray Administration. The local Republicans are inviting Democrats and Republicans to join their call for an investigation with a letter to the House Membership.

“With unemployment rising in Massachusetts and the Beacon Hill leadership giddy about proposing new tax hikes, this Administration is hiring unqualified, political fundraising operatives as public safety chiefs for a near six figure salary,” said Fattman. “The people of Massachusetts are losing their patience and appetites for this turkey the Administration keeps serving up.”

Since the inauguration of the Patrick-Murray Administration in 2007, the number of public employees earning more than $100,000 or more increased by almost 2,000 employees, or 38 percent, according to a public employee payroll analysis completed in early 2012.

"Its unfortunate that every time we turn around there is another scandal to deal with in this administration." Durant said.

"We've had 4 consecutive months of increasing unemployment, a Governor priming everyone for the tax increases to come meaning we will all have to tighten our belts again, and yet the plum jobs for the Democratic party's political operatives seem to know no end. This needs to be examined"

The legislators are also calling for the release of State Highway Safety Chief Sheila Burgess’ cell phone records. According to State Police reports, Burgess was involved in an accident where she veered off the road at 1:16pm on a clear and sunny August 24th. With the traffic infraction record of Burgess and the well known background as a political fundraiser, legislators feel all public records available should be released on the Safety Chiefs to clear her of any wrongdoing on the public’s time.

"When will this nonsense end?" Kuros asked. "Paying Ms. Burgess almost $100,000 of taxpayer money to promote good driving practices is akin to paying Dr. Kevorkian $100,000 to promote public health, except Dr. Kevorkian was better qualified."