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StumbleGibbons questions funding for state job of woman suing him
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | 2:47 p.m.
Gov. Jim Gibbons
Sun Archives
- Judge dismisses 7 claims in Gibbons texting case (3-30-2010)
- Judge hears arguments in Gibbons texting case (3-12-2010)
- Woman suing Gibbons will oversee state’s spending of stimulus (11-2-2009)
- Suit links Gibbons to agency chief’s firing (10-30-2009)
Sun Coverage
CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons took a shot this week at his former nemesis, Mary Keating, who believes she lost her former state job because she leaked information about his use of his state cell phone to send personal text messages to a female friend.
But Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Secretary of State Ross Miller, both Democrats, blocked an effort by Gibbons that could have cost Keating her job.
Keating, a certified public accountant, now works in the state controller’s office overseeing and auditing the federal stimulus funds to the state.
She has a federal suit pending against Gibbons alleging she was the victim of defamatory statements by the governor. Gibbons says she was removed from her job in the state budget office because of performance issues.
Her suit says she suffered mental distress and that proper rules weren't followed when she was given a choice to either resign or take a position in the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Keating is now paid $103,000 a year. The state controller's office is requesting $150,000 in emergency funds to continue the position through the next fiscal year.
That request this week came before the state Board of Examiners, of which Gibbons is chairman. He questioned whether the duties of the job in the controller’s office were duplicative of the position in his office dealing with stimulus funding.
He said he wanted to see the job description before voting for the funds. His Department of Personnel developed the job specifications for the position last November.
The governor voted against recommending to the Legislative Interim Finance Committee the emergency funding to continue the position. But Masto and Miller both backed Controller Kim Wallin in her plan to keep the position. Keating’s name wasn't mentioned during the meeting.
In 2008, Gibbons made more than 800 text messages on his state phone to his friend, Kathy Karrasch. About five week after the misuse was revealed, Keating said she was told she was being fired, but she was given the option of resigning or taking a similar temporary position in the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. She took the job and was later hired by the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Gibbons repaid the state $130 for the text messages.
Keating’s current job was authorized by the Interim Finance Committee last August after a debate on whether to place it in the governor’s office, the state budget office or the controller’s office. Democrats won the argument, putting it in the controller’s office. The position was opened for applications in November and Keating was chosen.
In the federal suit, U.S. District Judge Robert Jones dismissed seven of the 10 claims filed against the governor and his budget director, but he permitted three allegations to go forward.
Among those claims dismissed were ones that Keating’s right to free speech was violated and that she had a legal right and expectation of continued employment in the budget office.
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Keating - a tad anal for tattle taleing on text messaging? So she wanted to save NV $130 and now look what this is costing. Idiot.
NEVER get your honey where you get your money.
don't go away mad. just go away
Keating needs to be laid off.
At 103K she could be a firefighter.
Sound like Gibbons worked really hard to get Keating fired. Too bad he didn't work that hard for things that really mattered.
Watch him go on the phony republican afternoon talk show that claims to be a "NEWS" show and go into the crybaby victim act, just like Ensign does. What a disgrace, why can't we have grown-up radio like other markets? Instead of political shill radio.
Real classy isn't he?
I would personally like to congratulate Gov'ner Gym for becoming the first sitting Governor IN HISTORY from Nevada to lose his job in the PRIMARY.
You Da Man, Gymmer!
We will surely miss your leadership. Especially in the Education arena...
I guess he will not go quietly, without being petty on his way out the door. I am SHOCKED!!!
Right out of the Book of Clinton.
Better yet, let's start with Department of Personnel and expose ALL the government corruptness.
Cy I'am sorry you missed the meeting when the state hearing officers were recently all reappointed. One officer [Kockenmeister] explained how he felt state employees were being fired to balance the budget!
It won't bother me if I already didn't know it was a known fact! [pay very close attention to your personnel file and watch your back!]
Stay classy, Gibbons/GOP.
Jim is vindictive, we all know that. What I want to know is why Keating is making 103k a year?
Gibbons begins his Revenge Trail of Tears.
hey jimbo...
you are a maggot...
time to go bye bye buddy...
we are sick of you...
you embarrassed the state...
by the way...
did you ever prove that the state didn't pay for your little trip with kathy to the white house???
hmmm???
you remember...
the one you got busted on...
then lied and lied and lied about...
remember that buddy...
good times...
I can't stand Gibbons, but Keating is no prize either. I used to have to interact with her on budget matters when I was with the state.
In my dealings with her I found her to be very stubborn and inflexible. Even when confronted with facts that prove her position on an issue is wrong, she will not accept it and will argue with you until you're exhausted. She doesn't take criticism very well, is very insecure, egotistical abrasive and abusive.
She needs to be gone, but because she's a long term hog at the government trough, not bloody likely.
What a sad state.
It reminds me of when I was standing at the train station to take the last train out of Austria as Germany's fighters were strafing the area and I said to my momma, "Grown people don't know how to live, momma!"
Hey Gov Gibbons, as long as you are questioning and trying to save NV State money. . .why not shut down the lame excuse for NV State Mine Safety, you know the guys that don't answer or investigate a timely formal complaint. Show MSATS Ed Tomany and Jeff Bixler the door. Maybe even take your cover-up artist Mendy Elloitt with you to your next gig.
Look at all the savings for Nevadans and NV workers will still have the same level of NON-REGULATORY Protection as per usual.
PRupp B125 SP NV 89047
Ironman, she may be all of the things you describe.However, if her main function is to audit and oversee federal monies being spent, I don't have a problem with her being stubborn and unflexible. I would be more inclined to question the pay of Gibbons cabinet, who recieved 3 and 400 % pay raises last year.He is vindictive and the only reason he is doing this is because she snitched on him. If he will use a cell phone paid for by taxpayers for personal use(regardless of the cost, I don't care if its 10 cents) he should be turned in, and questioned what other state funded items does he use for personal use? He is a loser and I'm glad he is GONE!!!!!
What will the next 6 months of lame duck Gibbons tenure be like? Don't expect ANYTHING to get done. He had no sense of urgency in dealing with high unemployment and Nevada's sorry economy. He'll do even less until he's finally shown the Governor's Mansion front door. He'd better embellish his resume since he couldn't get hired as a bar back with his background.
well we know he couldn't get hired as the bouncer of a bar to help ascort women to their cars!
we also know when he took his girlfriend to Washington when he had a big meeting,she stayed with him in his taxpayer funded hotel room, he recieved per diem for meals and incidentals, I'm sure he shared, and his taxpayer funded vehicle and body guards escorted her as well as Gibbie.We the taxpayer also paid for every court case brought against him while in office. Those are the most notable, what else does he spend tax dollars for in his personal life? In a good economy, it probably wouldn't even be noticed, but when he is complaining about govt spending and cutting wages, laying people off and cutting programs, his behavior is disgusting. He is a loser of huge proportions.
103K a year. This government deserves to go bankrupt. What a joke.
Gibbons will continue to recieve a pension and healthcare for the rest of his life all bought and paid for by Nevada tax payers.
Well we all know the Fibbons has be lying to us since before he got elected Govenor.
Keating should have kept her mouth shut until she needed to trade the information for something she needed, so she will get what she gets.
As for the revenge that Fibbons will try to get for not being re-elected....watch your taxes start going up before he leaves office.
mlind: Our taxes have already gone up. The Dems don't care. Didn't you notice they overrode the Lovernor's veto?
mred and NoJim: What would you do if you were governor to stimulate jobs and employment? Where's your plan? He's done everything he can to keep taxes down so we can keep some of our money to grow the economy but was thwarted at every turn by the RINO/DEMO legislature?
If she had done that, she would have been no better than him, so she did the right thing.
bbtrain, gibbons raised taxes. He just called them fees instead.There is nothing he has done that has been for the betterment of this state. Problem is, neither will Sandoval or Rory Reid.We will be butchered one way or the other.
Like I said, which are you willing to give up, your paycheck or your priciples?