Some question why Johnson not named to post: ; Goodwin says she was not consulted about the decision

DAILY MAIL CAPITOL REPORTER

Several people familiar with the Governor's Workforce InvestmentOffice say they're disappointed Gov. Bob Wise chose a longtimefriend of administration officials to lead the office rather than aformer delegate.

It initially appeared Trent Redman would leave the office andformer Delegate Arley Johnson would be the director. But thatchanged over the course of a weekend about a month ago.

The Senate Finance Committee is holding up a $10 million spendingbill because members are worried not only that the executive orderto reorganize the agency might violate the federal WorkforceInvestment Act of 1998 but also because of complaints that Redmanhas replaced 12 experienced employees with contract and temporaryworkers. Chairman Oshel Craigo, D-Putnam, and other senators wantanswers about what's going on at the agency.

People who worked in the office said Redman, with tears in hiseyes, announced to a small group of middle-level managers one Fridaythat he would be leaving the agency.

But the following Monday, the governor's office made a publicannouncement that Redman would lead Workforce Investment and Johnsonwould become the governor's community development liaison officerwith a $5,000 raise in his $60,000 salary.

Several people inside and outside of Workforce Investment sayEducation and the Arts Secretary Kay Goodwin used her influence toget Wise to choose Redman over Johnson.

"That surprises me," Goodwin said. "I really was not consultedabout that - not that I should have been. It's not my area."

Goodwin said that, at the time the decision was made, she was inBaltimore, where her husband, U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin,was having surgery. But she was pleased with Wise's choice, becauseRedman has been a family friend since he attended West VirginiaUniversity with her son, Booth.

Wise's press secretary, Amy Shuler Goodwin, who is Booth's wife,said the governor's office would not discuss personnel issues, butshe did say that Wise believes both Johnson and Redman are "veryqualified." Redman has also declined in writing to discuss personnelissues.

Johnson said his new job is a "fine position" and he's enjoyingworking with about 60 organizations around the state to make surethey're in compliance with federal statutes before auditors come in.

"I was moved and given a $5,000 raise, so I could complain, butwhy complain?" Johnson said.

Until the reorganization of the agency, Redman, an attorney andformer Cabell County magistrate, had been the administrative chiefof the office while Johnson, who had been hired earlier, was head ofthe state Workforce Investment Board. Many people wanted to changethe arrangement.

"There was a lot of confusion about who was actually in charge,"Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley, said.

Unger, who has been a leader in the Senate on work forcedevelopment issues, said it's not for him to say which person Wiseshould have picked, but he thinks the complaints of the 12 relocatedemployees should be investigated.

"My main focus on all these employees' issues is primarilycentered around not so much the personality conflicts but primarilythat many of them have suggested things within the system that needto be corrected that would meet our requirements for the federalact," Unger said.

"I have been given an indication by some people at the federallevel that the U.S. Department of Labor may be becoming impatientwith the state of West Virginia in hoping we can do the kinds ofreforms that are necessary to put us in compliance," Unger said. Ifthe state fails to comply with the federal law, it could be finedmillions of dollars, he said.

Like the Goodwins, Unger has known Redman for many years, becausethey attended WVU at the same time.

"I think Trent may have taken on a challenge, and he didn'trealize the magnitude of that challenge and the players that areinvolved in it and the complexity of the issue at hand," he said."Personally, I very much like Trent Redman."

Johnson has a similar appraisal of Redman and the position he'sin.

"I think he's a fine person," he said. "I think maybe he has tolearn a few things."

Writer Jim Wallace can be reached at 348-4819 or by e-mail atjimw@dailymail.com.