Posted on 02/09/2006 9:59:38 AM PST by CedarDave
The University of New Mexico has created a new communications job that will be filled by Gov. Bill Richardson's former chief spokesman, Billy Sparks, at a $120,000-a-year salary.
Dr. Paul Roth, executive vice president for health sciences, said he approached Sparks about the job because of his unique set of skills.
Roth said the position, executive director of communications and marketing for the Health Sciences Center, was not advertised.
Roth said Sparks will start work there today.
Roth said the hiring fell under a "sole source" category designed for candidates with a unique set of skills. Under that category, "we are permitted to go through a different process in hiring."
Roth acknowledged that Sparks, who does not have a college degree, will be making more money than some doctors working at UNM. But, Roth added, "I have no expertise, and other doctors have no expertise, in areas of communication and marketing."
Sparks said he is "two courses short" of having a college degree but has extensive experience at the state and national level in communications. Most of his work has been in political and government arenas.
He said his salary in the Governor's Office was "about $91,000."
Roth said he recruited Sparks after he heard through "hallway conversations" that Sparks might be available. Sparks most recently was Richardson's deputy chief of staff, serving as the governor's chief of communications before that.
The idea for such a position at UNM had its seed a couple of years ago when a consultant recommended three major areas of improvement at the Health Sciences Center, Roth said.
One of them was better communication with the public. "We have lots of very exciting and wonderful programs," he said. "We have not been able to tell our story to the public the way we should."
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Universities are so proceedure orientated in personnel area that this 'unadvertised' job reeks of payoff. The question is why is this 'Friend of Bill' being paid off this way.
Once again New Mexico proves itself to be a Banana Republic. (sarcasm) I am sure this will help the Republicans gain support and over through 80 years of DemocRATic rule (/sarcasm)
If you think that's a really BIG salary. :)
Probably mutual back scratching -- he gets a high paying job, UNM gets more access next time it needs money for health sciences or UNM hospital.
For New Mexico, it is.
PR is more important than health care in the leftist world.
It's all about location. Here in Northern Virginia we'd wonder what the fuss is about.
I heard another story today about a long-term art curator at a local who museum was summarily dismissed and run out of the building because she wouldn't immediately respond to King Bill's request that an artist whose work he collects be featured, and right now.
This man is petty, vindictive, and dangerous.
I heard another story today about a long-term art curator at a local museum who was summarily dismissed and run out of the building because she wouldn't immediately respond to King Bill's request that an artist whose work he collects be featured, and right now.
This man is petty, vindictive, and dangerous.
Apologies, connection went down, then up. Don't know how the double post happened.
Wasn't Sparks doing for Richardson what Richardson used to do for Bubba?
Why doesn't this suprise me? The only worse governor we have had is Toney Anaya.
Hispanic Center Official Ousted Over Artist's Exhibit (NM:Fired by Richardson) ^
A male version of Hillary, but with diplomatic skills.
Thanks.
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