Fletcher Administration Incompetence - Again

There is a problem with loosing institutional memory in an organization like state government or maybe there have just been too many Republican political hires in the Personnel Cabinet.

Case in point:

FRANKFORT - Letters sent to 146,000 government employees in Kentucky inadvertently displayed each of their Social Security numbers on the front, prompting
Attorney General Greg Stumbo to issue a warning about possible identity theft.

"The Social Security number is the key that unlocks many doors for identity thieves,"
Stumbo said in statement. "With that information, an identity thief has access to a host of information about consumers."

The Kentucky Personnel Cabinet sent the letters to employees in state agencies, community and technical colleges, school districts, health departments and other offices covered by the state's insurance program. The letters provided routine information about enrollment in the coverage plan for next year.

The Social Security numbers were included as the first nine digits in 14-digit codes that were clearly visible in the address window of each of the envelopes.

"I'm ultimately responsible, and we'll take responsibility," said Personnel Secretary Brian Crall. "I've instructed our folks that we will not have numbers visible in the windows again."

When I worked for Auditor Ed Hatchett, multiple Cabinet Secretary’s were taken to task over not safe guarding information. As one Cabinet Secretary later described a meeting about their Cabinets lack of Computer Security, “That was the most embarrassing two hour meeting I’ve have ever attended.”

I guess when the Boy Governor runs off most tenured staff things like this can be expected.

And if Brian Crall is really taking responsibility, where is his resignation for such total incompetence?

Political Fumble Mouth

Sometimes politicians say stupid things in the heat of a debate. Take for example Mayor Teresa Isaac’s comment:

“Mayor Teresa Isaac wants to use the city's power of eminent domain to take Lexington Mall and turn it into a softball complex.

"The developer will not cooperate with anyone in town or return anyone's phone calls," Isaac said at a debate yesterday morning with challenger Jim Newberry. "So we're actually looking at that site for a public use."

The management at Kentucky American Water must be laughing over this one. All they need to do now is point at Teresa and say, “See no business is safe, the Mayor and Lexington government is running amok.”

There are times that government should act for the greater good, like taking the water company, but taking Lexington Mall is not one of them.

This was a dumb thing to say Teresa, really dumb.

However, at least Teresa was in the middle of a debate, there is no excuse for Wanita Sipe Elison who is running for City Council in the 6th District.

It seems “Nita” distributed campaign propaganda that stated:

"Keep Nita Elison on the Urban County Council, working for the 6th District and YOU."

The only problem is Nita is not on the Council. According to the Herald Leader:

“Elison's campaign literature that was distributed dates back to 2004, she said, when she was the incumbent in the diverse district outside New Circle Road that includes historic areas, new subdivisions, a new Bryan Station High School, the middle class and the working poor.”

The question is do you want someone that runs a campaign this sloppy in office.

By the way Elison never won an election for the seat she held, she was appointed by Teresa Isaac.