Strickland Failed to Submit Appointments of Cabinet Directors to the Senate for Approval

The Columbus Dispatch reports:

The office of Gov. Ted Strickland failed to submit the appointments of five cabinet directors to the state Senate for approval.

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Public Safety Director Cathy Collins-Taylor likely would have faced few problems if her paperwork had been sent to the Senate shortly after her Sept. 18 appointment. The Senate approves such appointments routinely.

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The Ohio Constitution requires Senate approval of certain cabinet directors and grants senators the authority to reject the governor's appointments, although such power rarely has been used.

Other cabinet directors whose appointments have not been sent to the Senate:

• Douglas Lumpkin of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, who was appointed Jan. 12, 2009.

• Kathleen Burke of the Ohio Lottery Commission, who was appointed Aug. 24.

• Lisa Patt-McDaniel of the Ohio Department of Development, who was appointed Sept. 16.

• Ernie Moore of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, who was appointed Feb. 1.

The governor's office was unaware that the five directors had not been confirmed by the Senate until The Dispatch raised the issue, said Amanda Wurst, Strickland's spokeswoman.

Wurst blamed an "administrative oversight" in which staff members responsible for sending paperwork to the Senate did not properly follow up. No one person was responsible, she said.

(Source: The Columbus Dispatch, 3/26/10)