Beshear administration names new natural resources commissioner

FRANKFORT — A veteran state mining official will be the new commissioner of the Department for Natural Resources, Environmental and Public Protection Secretary Bob Vance said.

Carl E. Campbell, who was in the former Department for Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for more than 25 years, will begin his new post May 12.  He will replace Susan Bush, whom Gov. Steve Beshear’s administration dismissed to the disappointment of some environmentalists.

  “We are pleased to have someone with Carl’s experience serving in such an important position,” Vance said in a statement.  “Carl’s career began as a reclamation inspector and he retired as commissioner, so he is familiar with the challenges of managing an important department.”

When the Environmental and Public Protection is reorganized in a few weeks, the natural resources department is expected to become a part of a new Energy Cabinet, to be headed by Len Peters of Shelby county.

“Carl’s experience, his knowledge of the coal industry and his leadership skills will serve the department well as Governor Beshear’s administration focuses on energy,”  Peters said in a statement.

Campbell began his career with surface mining reclamation department in 1978 as a reclamation inspector. He served in various positions before being named a division director in 1988. He served as deputy commissioner from 1992 to 1995, when he was named commissioner.

“I am pleased with the opportunity to serve Gov. Beshear and look forward to working with Dr. Peters as Kentucky implements a comprehensive energy program,” Campbell said in  a statement.

The Department for Natural Resources includes the divisions of mine safety and licensing, mine permits, abandoned mine lands and mine reclamation and enforcement, forestry, conservation and oil and gas.

--Jack Brammer

Comments

[told ya]

This info was posted a week ago by some folks on this blog and the one belonging to Brett Hall accompanied by rumors about Mr. Campbell and alleged dependency issues. Seems his appointment was true. Hope the rest isn't!

[Rob]

If you are let go under a former gov. and call it retirement. Coming back in 5 years is not considered pre-arranged. If he came back in 6 months, ok that is pre-agganged.

[Copy Cat]

Go back and read the post...it's only talking about pre-arrangement in regard to Darla Sandlin and Dan Egbers. The other was simply a prediction or leak about Carl Campbell's appointment.

[recycle]

recyling of the good ole boys

[State Employee]

I know Carl Campbell, and he is a great guy. But, he makes employees play by the rules. What's wrong with that?

[Hilarious]

Play by the rules? That's a good one. He was there during the 90's when state government was always in news for folks on the take including mining inspectors.
One thing is for sure, Susan Bush had the respect of employees. I've heard from 3 career employees just since this was announced who are very disappointed in this selection.

[That's Hilarious]

When has any Governor cared about what state employees think?

[Appalling]

Steve Beshear continues to show that his campaign promises mean nothing. He hypocritically ran on ethics, all the while knowing that Mr. Yung had secretly given $1 million to a 527 to smear Fletcher. He promised to operate in a bi-partisan manner, then proceeds to fire excellent Republican administrators, like Susan Bush, for the sole reason of recycling his friends. And, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The examples go on and on.

I have been around long enough to know what Beshear was like. All the media attacks on Fletcher prevented a reasonable vetting of his record and personality. He hypocritically campaigned in front of a church, using his status as a preacher's kid to imply that he was someone he is not.

If the current Attorney General conducted himself like Stumbo, Beshear would be in serious trouble. But, he is a Democrat, and would never investigate or indict his fellow Dem. Is that justice? Did Fletcher receive justice?

I truly believe that Beshear can get away with almost anything but murder, and I am not sure he couldn't pull that off if the victim were a Republican! The double standard in Kentucky, largely perpetrated and facilitated by a biased media, is appalling!

[Ditto Appalling]

Everything Appalling has said is very true. It's really discouraging to see that this administration BLATANTLY gets away with everything, including illegal and corrupt behavior. It looks like there will be no indictments or accountability for this behavior other than at the polls, which will not happen for another 3-1/2 years. Fletcher would have been recalled by now if he had been involved in only a fraction of this kind of behavior. It's almost like Beshear and his cronies are thumbing their noses saying "I'm here, I can do anything I want, and no one can do anything about it."

[Appalled - that is funny]

Appalled - that is truly funny. First of all, there is nothing illegal about terminating the employment of a non-merit (non career employee) and replacing with someone else. Why does that appall you? Fletcher did it and so has every other governor.

This does not mean that Governor Beshear won't hire or retain Republicans (there are still many in place). This is simply that Ms. Bush can't match up to the experience of Mr. Campbell. What's wrong with having the best person in the right position?

I call that efficiency.

Ms. Bush knew when she took the job a few years ago that she could be replaced at ANY time, especially if the administration changes. She was probably not surprised.

[Sec Office]

actually, bobby vance (eppc secretary) and mark york (chief of sludge) met with bush in January and told her that they were keeping her on. Then this past week they called her in and gave her abour 4 hours to get out. That's the kind of people beshear has brought in (at least at eppc). vance and york are two peEs in a pod!

[Appalled - that is funny]

TO: Sec Office:

That is the same thing that happened four years ago. Fletcher's people told Patton's appointees that they were safe, and then one day they were blind sided. Sometimes a higher power prevails. That is called Kentucky politics.

Mark York should be shown the door or demoted to an entry level position. He is as useless as they come.

But, that is the name of the game. Ms. Bush took the job knowing she could be let go at ANY time, including by Fletcher. That is why non-merits are paid more money. So, it should come as no surprise. If she is as brilliant as some claim, she can find another job.

It is funny how the Fletcher cronies are finally get kicked out - and word has it that more are getting ready to go. So, dust off the resumes.

To the victor goes the spoils!

Ms. Bush can probably get a job with David Williams (to advise him on natural resource issues) or with Chief Justice Lambert. Both are crooked as a dog's hind leg.

[Kick Beshear Out]

"To the victor goes the spoils"? Hmmm. Is that what Beshear promised during the debates?

Whether it is legal for Beshear to fire Ms. Bush is not the point. The point is that it is partisan, political, counter-productive, and contrary to Beshear's promises. It is abundantly clear that like many lawyers, the way to tell when Beshear is lying is when you observe his lips moving.

I am sure Ms. Bush will land on her feet. And, eventually, Beshear will be kicked out on his butt. In the meantime, it is the citizens of Kentucky who suffer.

[Revisionist history]

The comment about Fletcher's non-merit decisions is revisionist history at best.

One of the biggest complaints that a lot of Republicans, like myself, had with EF was that he KEPT too many appointed Democrats.

This was our opportunity to sweep clean, to get rid of the corruption and incompetence that has plagued state government for years, but instead Fletcher had a 60-40 ratio of Demcrats to Republicans as his appointed non-merits.

What he should have done was throw EVERY non-merit who was already in position out the door and start fresh.

I can't fault Beshear for putting his own people in. But if he or his hacks are telling people they're safe, and then firing them, that's bush league (no pun intended) and low-class.

But I expect nothing else but bush league and low-class from KY Democrats. It's all they know and all they are.