The race controversy that engulfed Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the wake of his announcement of the first all-white cabinet in the state since 1962 continues to evolve as the Republican seems to acknowledge his mistake in ignoring the 20 percent minority population of the state he now governs.
Kasich lit a firestorm by refusing to appoint a single minority to the 22 positions on his cabinet for which he controls selections. When confronted by a black state legislator on the subject, Kasich replied that he “did not want/will not hire your people.” Kasich’s office initially stood by the comments, said they were taken out of context, and did not announce any plans to add a minority with the tiny number of open cabinet slots remaining.
After sharp criticism from African American lawmakers and activists in Ohio, and the story being picked up in the national press, Kasich has made his first hire of a minority for his cabinet. The other 22 cabinet positions are still held by white individuals.
The Republican governor reappointed Michael Colbert, who is African American, to head the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Colbert had been in the job since the day before Kasich was sworn into office, meaning he has still failed to make an independent appointment of a minority to serve in a cabinet position they were not already filling.
With only three posts left to fill on what had been an all-white cabinet, Gov. John Kasich today made his first minority appointment, naming Michael B. Colbert to head the giant Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Colbert, who is black, had been serving as interim director of the department since Jan. 9, when the former director, Douglas E. Lumpkin, stepped down a day before Kasich’s inauguration. Lumpkin, who also is black, on Monday was named chief operating officer for Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted.
Kasich has drawn intense criticism from black lawmakers and Democrats for lacking racial diversity on his cabinet, which until today was all white, including four women. An Ohio governor has not had an all-white cabinet since 1962, when Democrat Michael DiSalle was in office.
At a press conference announcing Colbert’s appointment, Kasich declined to answer whether he felt his cabinet now had sufficient racial and gender diversity.
Still waiting for an accounting of how many blacks, women, gays, trans, hispanics, and Muslims are employed by the UnPrincipled Progressive!
So we have the jerk off in Alabama that only represents CHRISTIANS and now this guy who doesn’t need “THOSE” people. How can you “conservatives” be surprised that you are seen as intolerant? I’m not saying that ALL conservatives are bigots but FAR TOO MANY of your leaders are and FAR TOO MANY of you celebrate that fact.
Still waiting for an accounting of how many blacks, women, gays, trans, hispanics, and Muslims are employed by the UnPrincipled Progressive!
Don’t hold your breath! The PP will only issue news they feel is ‘Fit to Print.’
The accounting is long overdue. You’d think they’d come clean by now.
As a 25 year Union member (IBEW), I always vote and I vote Democrat. That being said, how can Gov. John Kasich (R) be faulted for appointing 22 card carrying Republicans to fill positions on his cabinet? Blacks and Hispanics vote Democract at about a 95% rate, so the pool of canidates in that particular demographic is somewhat small. And why reward a cabinet position to a political opponent at the expense of a political supporter?
This seems to be a non-issue, except as post election, partisan bickering.
That’s the most intelligent observation, by far, I’ve seen on this particular subject…
DJ
“I always vote and I vote Democrat.” That proves you’re lying and are not a Dem. We vote “Democratic.”
Besides your false premise on the politics of race in the state (Minorities are 20% of the population, should be 20% of Racsich’s cabinet; no matter how they vote. Taxation w/o rep…ring a bell?), “Democrat” is what only neanderthals like Rush or Quitter Palin call us…
In accordance with OH Gov. John Kasich, reform of the state’s CBA is necessary.
I found this here: Ohio public workers protest collective barganining reform
Cleveland.com reports that this has failed to endear Gov. Kasich to supporters of organized labor in the state. Approximately 1,800 protestors showed up at the OH Statehouse in Columbus in order to voice their displeasure of Senate Bill 5, which would radically alter collective bargaining rights.