WHAT MAKES A CANDIDATE THE MOST QUALIFIED

Duane Murner claims that Paula Gish is the most qualified person in the county to be the County Judge/Executive. One cannot help but wonder on what basis he makes that finding.

Certainly Gish is not as well educated as many people in Oldham County. She has an Associate’s Degree. Lest we forget Judge Murner really touted his Harvard degree when he was running for County Judge/Executive. Certainly she does not have an outstanding work history. She has stated that she was a part-time secretary for twenty-five years before becoming the County Deputy Judge/Executive. She has some experience as a member of PTAs. Although that is a worthwhile organization, the experience ones gains in that organization at the local level hardly qualifies one to be a County Judge/Executive. And, Gish was a magistrate for several years. I am sure that she cast votes on many matters before the court during that time but I cannot remember any significant issue that she championed. Further, casting votes does not make a person the most qualified candidate for any office.

It appears that the best experience that Gish would have to offer would be her experience as the Deputy County Judge/Executive. Thus, allow me to take a look at her work in that area. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2008 the Payroll Officer for the Oldham County Fiscal Court reported to the Deputy County Judge/Executive who was Gish. In an audit performed by the Kentucky State Auditor the auditor stated that there were “material weaknesses” in the internal control over the payroll. The auditor stated that the “payroll officer does not report to an individual knowledgeable of the payroll system and process.” In other words, Paula Gish was not knowledgeable of the payroll system and process. But, wait a minute, this is the most qualified person in the county. Well, maybe she just became the most qualified person in the last eighteen months.

As a result of the findings the auditor recommended that the payroll officer should report to the Chief Financial Officer. However, in his reply to the audit, Judge Murner stated that the payroll officer would continue reporting to the Deputy Judge/Executive (Gish).

In my opinion, Paula Gish would be violating the terms of the Hatch Act if she were supervising the control and use of federal funds. Murner claims that she is not violating the Hatch Act. Therefore, she must not be supervising those funds. If she were not qualified to oversee the payroll officer for the county, the taxpayers should be happy that she is not overseeing federal funds.

Anyway, all residents of the county can take comfort in the fact that they have the most qualified candidate in Paula Gish, that is, according to Judge Murner.

The audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 can be found at oldhamcounty.net. The material referenced in this article can be found beginning with page five of the report.