Governor Dave Heineman just appointed State Senator Mike Friend the director of the new State Office of Violence Prevention. Senator Friend replaces McGruff the Crime Dog who has been the de facto director for many years.
Sen. Friend leaves legislature – Omaha World Herald
Senator Friend has absolutely no qualifications for this job except he wrote the bill that created the position.
The World-Herald tried to bolster Friend’s experience by pointing out the following…
He also knows law enforcement through family and friends. Three uncles and three cousins have worked for the Omaha Police Department, including former Deputy Chief Joe Friend.
My mother is a nurse, does that make me qualified to be Director of Nursing in Nebraska? I have several relatives that farm. Does that qualify me for Ag Secretary?
Friend entered the legislature with a job paying him about $40k a year (this is my estimate but anyone familiar with the salaries of copywriters can tell you $40k is an extremely generous number), and leaves with almost twice the salary. Did I mention he created the job? Did I mention he has no qualifications?
Heineman’s appointment is also politically shrewd. Thanks to term limits, Friend will be out of his Legislative gig next year, and the Governor can appoint whoever he wants to the vacated seat. That person, guaranteed to be a Republican, will have a leg up if they decide to run for the seat next fall.
My question to the readers… If you were in the legislature, what job would you create for yourself? Director of Couch Potato Research? Director of Awesome? Post your job idea in the comments section.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
It seems as if the Governor has already appointed himself Director of Political Giveaways. Kerry Winterer, Mike Friend, and a slew of others. How much is Friend getting paid for this giveaway?
I’m reminded of that scene from Tommy Boy where he messes up his dad’s quote: “You can get a good look at a butcher’s ass…no, wait, it has to be your bull.” Well we’re getting an ugly look at our Governor’s ass and attitude here: Fake it until you can get paid Republicans.
Back Scratch Fever! Dang, where do I get n line for my crony appointment to a sweet-paying, do-nothing government job by “governor” Dave Tinyman?
Oink, Oink! Sooooo-eeeey!
Wake up, people!
You may want to read the post again. No where did I say he earned $40k for his "legislative salary". I guessed that he got paid that for his copywriter salary. If you have better information on what he was paid for this position, I'm all ears.