Wow I guess they are quite a team. I have been an academic for 25+ years at a number of institutions. I have NEVER seen an attempt to strong arm oneself into a job like this one.
It is shameless. First the guy applies for a job before the position is announced. BTW, if he does not reapply once it is announced he probably can not be legally hired. Then he or his wife leaks his application to the local paper again before there is a job advertised and a search committe. Then his wife writes about his application for this not yet existing openning on her employer's website.
He would never get a job this way at a four year institution. JUCOs are more political so maybe this will work. Certainly "I want to come home" is not a qualificaton for this job. [BTW, the bad news for us is that a columnist could easily work from a remote site.]
And finally, I guess Sheehan remains too stupid to see that she along with her husband are jumping the gun again JUST LIKE SHE DID ON THE DUKE LACROSSE ALLEGATIONS!!!!! Talk about a slow learner.
(no links)
Kirk gives Payne the business
The News & Observer
February 12, 2002
Author: Amy Gardner; Staff Writer
Estimated printed pages: 2
The head of the state's leading business lobby takes a shot at one of Gov. Mike Easley's recent political appointments in the latest issue of the group's monthly magazine.
Phil Kirk, president of N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry, called Easley's appointment in December of Harry Payne to lead the Employment Security Commission "a dramatic insult to the state's business community."
In the past, Kirk has disagreed with Payne over such workplace issues as ergonomics regulations. He called the former labor commissioner "a yearlong unemployed liberal Democratic activist" with a "clearly anti-business record and bias."
As chairman of the state Board of Education, Kirk himself is a gubernatorial appointee. And he has been criticized recently for wearing two hats, as some members of the business group have accused him of of not properly representing their interests while also leading the state on education policy.
Payne, for one, thinks that conflict may have had something to do with Kirk's message.
"I just assumed that Phil was putting on a display for his members," said Payne, who is married to N&O columnist Ruth Sheehan.
But Payne clearly thought Kirk went too far.
"When the arguments slide toward ad hominem," Payne said, "they invariably take on an edge that I think is undignified for someone who describes himself as the voice of business and industry, and perhaps not the best of role models for a public school system."
Kirk insisted there was nothing personal about the piece, nor did it have anything to do with the fire he came under for his dual public roles.
"That's preposterous," Kirk said, before the business group's executive committee gave him a vote of confidence last week. "The column was written six weeks ago, before there was any hint of dissatisfaction. Anybody who subscribes to that theory doesn't understand magazine deadlines."
(snip)
KEEPING UP WITH NUMBERS -
Payne on the job
Employment security chief tracks funds, readies nursery
Morning Star (Wilmington, NC)
January 1, 2003
Author: Mark Schreiner, Raleigh Bureau Chief
Estimated printed pages: 2
RALEIGH Harry Payne has two holiday wishes: For a healthy child born by Jan. 16 and for a $150 million federal loan to the state.
The Wilmington native, now chairman of the N.C. Employment Security Commission, is making preparations for a third child.
"I swear I'll go crazy if I have to carry another load of Sheetrock into the house" for the nursery, Mr. Payne said during an interview last month. "But it's got to be done."
Other New Year tasks awaiting him are persuading Congress to extend unemployment benefits again and to convince the administration to loan the state unemployment insurance fund money if it runs out before first quarter premiums come in during April.
Both wishes have their public side. Readers of Raleigh's News & Observer have gotten frequent insights and updates from Mr. Payne's wife, columnist Ruth Sheehan.
Unemployment and other indicators of the troubled economic times have made headlines all year long.
A little more than a year ago, Mr. Payne had departed the public view, declining to run for re-election after finishing two four-year terms as North Carolina's elected commissioner of labor.
Before that, he had served 12 years in the state House, representing New Hanover County.
In 2000, he decided to work from his Raleigh home, get in on the Internet revolution and spend time with his children.
"It was truly a case of 'Harry timing,' picking the worst time to get into the dot-com boom," he said. "But we still have a solid idea, something worth looking at when people are ready to invest in the Internet again."
The idea is biglobby.com, a subscription Web portal which allows users to track North Carolina legislation through the General Assembly, notifies them when changes are made and helps them write target messages to lawmakers on topics that interest them.
The dream was to connect the labyrinth of lawmaking to citizens through the Internet, he said.
Also, working at home was not as easy as he thought.
"I have a jealous, loud dog that wanted my attention, even when I was on the phone," he said. "I wasn't cut out to work from home."
In 2001, he asked Gov. Easley for a spot in his administration and the ESC chairmanship became available.
(snip)