Uhler appointment raising concerns
It erodes public trust, union officials say about naming supervisor’s wife to county management position
Allegations of a conflict of interest, a violation of public trust, unfairness in the Placer County hiring process and even nepotism surround the recent appointment of a county supervisor’s wife to a management position. While wrongdoing has not been identified by an official investigative body, the move has raised concerns from citizens and county union leaders who are calling for action. The relatively high-paying position was not advertised and the position had been vacant for two years. Tami Uhler, wife of Placer County Supervisor Kirk Uhler, was appointed to the assistant director of the Placer County Department of Child Support Services July 7 with a starting salary of $92,000 plus benefits, according to county officials. Supervisor Uhler, who represents the Granite Bay area, said his wife’s recent appointment is completely legitimate. “I reject the premise of a conflict of interest,” said Kirk Uhler. “To the extent that county counsel would advise that there is a conflict present — I would absolutely recuse myself.” Chuck Thiel, spokesman for the Placer Public Employees Union, said issues surrounding the appointment are eroding public trust. “A lot of employees are upset about this,” Thiel said. “Considering who she is — there is no transparency in this at all. Public trust is huge.” Just because Supervisor Uhler has the potential to vote on an item that involves his wife’s department doesn’t constitute a conflict of interest until he acts, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Uhler said concerned citizens need a fair evaluation of the facts surrounding his wife’s appointment. “She was recruited by a former colleague for whom she worked,” Uhler said. That colleague, Troy Held, the hiring manager and the director of the department said he worked with Tami Uhler 10 years ago when she was a Placer County assistant district attorney. “I’ve known Tami for many years and she is a hard worker, very intelligent, former prosecutor — very good at it,” Held said. “I trust her.” Held said the position was frozen for the last two years before being reopened. He acknowledged the opening was not advertised and all of the three candidates for the job were former colleagues of his. “Since it is up to the department head, it’s people I can choose,” Held said. Thiel said this hiring practice is unfair. “Do you gift jobs or do you open recruitment to evaluate all possible applicants so you can get the best person for the job?” Thiel said. “You might have found someone who was better than her. We’ll never know.” According to the county’s Civil Service Commission Web site, the commission was created in 1961 … “for the purpose of obtaining the highest efficiency and assuring that the best qualified persons available shall be brought into the service of the County.” However, the commission does allow the appointment of unclassified management positions without an exam or other process used to fill other county positions, according to county personnel officials. To muddy the water further, Thiel said County CEO Tom Miller, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors, approved her appointment. “Mrs. Uhler is married to a public official who appointed the person that hired her,” Thiel said. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. It is a clear violation of the rules. This violates the county nepotism code.” According to personnel officials, the appointment does not violate county nepotism rules because Kirk Uhler is not her direct supervisor According to the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which governs fines and other civil penalties for political conflicts of interests, state law does not prohibit Tami Uhler from seeking a public position just because her spouse holds another public position. Supervisor Kirk Uhler said his wife’s intentions to go back to work were honorable after she put her career on hold for a decade to raise their children. “I am perplexed as to why this would cause people concern,” Uhler said. “(But) I can absolutely see why people without the full grasp of the facts surrounding my wife’s employment would raise their eyebrows.” Over the past two years the county’s financial troubles have restricted hiring, and critical positions have been filled only as vacancies occur. But the Department of Child Support Services is funded primarily from federal and state funds. The recent state budget compromise secured funding for the Department of Child Support Services and revenue stabilization funds allowed Held to expand the department. “A lot of folks down at the Capitol have a lot of faith in the program and see it as a way of recovering money,” Held said. Part of Tami Uhler’s new job is to help establish court orders to recover public assistance from non-custodial parents. Thiel said county taxpayers would be affected by this hiring decision. “Workers do one furlough day a month to save the county money,” Thiel said. “If 99 percent of the funding comes from outside and hiring of this position is not a budget issue why are County Child Support Services workers on work furloughs? We could have got two positions on what they are spending on this position.” Concerned Auburn resident Rick Menkick said more transparency and fairness will restore public trust in county leadership. “Uhler is just playing semantics,” Menkick said. “I think we need to get those guys working for us again, not for themselves. If that means changing (civil service) rules so everyone has a fair shot to get in there, so be it.” Supervisor Uhler said he doesn’t agree with changing civil service rules, which he said would further restrict managers from hiring whomever they want. “If they had hired my neighbor you wouldn’t have any concern about the rules,” Kirk Uhler said. “The rules are OK for everyone else but once they apply to me and my wife then it should be changed. The rules are fine for the decades that we have had civil service in place.” Uhler said in 1995 he spearheaded a ballot initiative to disband the civil service commission but failed. Tami Uhler and Tom Miller did not return phone calls seeking comment for this article.
|
Change Location:
|
Relatively high paying position, $92,000.00 to start. In my book that IS a high paying position.
Maybe there was nothing illegal as everyone of the foxes guarding the chicken coop state, but how about ethical?
Have some of the Supervisors and upper management in Placer County become so bold that they pull this type of scam without even flinching? Do they think they are so powerful that they can do and get away with whatever they want? I think that there is a new face in Placer County, one that will not tolerate all these little unethical actions, the brotherhood may be disbanded during the next election. In the meantime someone may want to break out a calculator and figure out how much monetary gain Uhler has gotten from this position that he was appointed to. Don't forget the solar scam and subsequent tax break while adding his perks.
Go ahead Kirk, laugh all the way to the bank while it lasts, get as much as you can, while you can.
Placer County- A dirty little County nestled in the beautiful Sierra foothills.
Oh I forgot to add, Placer County is also home to the unadvertised high paying positions, kept open until they can be filled with friends. That makes it even dirtier but not more beautiful.
Doesn't anyone get it yet? Placer County good ole boys and their henchmen can do whatever they want whenever they want. Good job Chuck Thiel for whistle blowing. With a 60/40 split of management and line staff in the county systems, all management positions need to be looked at. With that kind of salary....you would almost get 2 for 1 instead of a 1 manager who will attend expensive lunches and many meetings where everyone pats each other on the back. Placer County needs to be investigated by the state and the feds and then be forced to clean house
Hey, how else is a guy supposed to augment an underpaid $30k a year job? come on people we all gotta right to the good life don't we?
This "controversy" is pretty ridiculous. Anybody who knows Tami Uhler knows -- no offense to Kirk -- but she didn't get her qualifications from Kirk. She was a deputy district attorney for Placer County, and a darned good one, when they got married back in 95 or 96.
Show me an unqualified person getting a job on the basis of who their spouse is, and I'll be the first to call it nepotism. That's not anywhere close to the same galaxy as Tami Uhler.
The oligarchy is established and working in PC. Could we expect anything less considering the attitude of the elitist in this country. How do these people live with themselves knowing they have lied, cheated, stolen their way to the top??~!!!
Fine! Now folks, in corporate financial markets this can be likened to insider trading. You must keep it in the “family;” you understand, I‘m sure.Only in this instance Uhler has twisted “insider trading” and morphed it into Placer County government structure.
For years now this county’s upper level management, along with certain elected officials, have hijacked the ship (county), they now own it; you do not. It is such an incestuous lot. What should you lowly citizens to do? Shut-up and pay your taxes you dim-wits! You are nothing more than one of the un-educated masses; leave enlightened elite like Uhler, et al who are pre-eminently sophisticated and really know what is good for you run the show. For example, Placer County‘s $3,000,000 non-competitive bid Solar Power Contract quietly awarded by the county to Uhler and the ever mendaciously arrogant Supervisor Robert Weygandt’s private company is good for you, accept that fact! While you stand in line filing your unemployment insurance papers think about poor Tami; having ten years of her earnings potential flushed-down-the-drain to be a “stay at home mommy.” Tragic isn’t it? Placer County now has to subsidize her for that, accept that fact.
Everything is coincidental isn’t it? Uhler’s campaign filings with the Secretary of State indicate that his political treasurer is a top manager of his private solar power company. (Take a peek) Oop’s, thing like that happen, accept that …
I can't believe I'm saying this, but aaronklein actually has a valid point. Tami Uhler is qualified for the position by education, training and experience. The salary is not high for an attorney with supervisory responsibility. What we actually have here is just poor political judgement. If you are going to hire a supervisor's spouse, no matter how well qualified she may be, you need to do it in an open process to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Pollywog:
It is easy. Look at “Big Fuzzy Lip’” (a.k.a. Thomas Miller), he was run out of Trinity County under a Grand Jury investigation. So, he is the ideal county CEO for Uhler et al.
What are citizens to do?
Shut-up and pay your taxes, these elite know what is best for you.
How about a “Tea Party” inside the Supervisor’s Chambers on the next scheduled meeting date?
Aaronklein - I couldn't care less how qualified Tami Uhler might be for the position. NOT the point, she is married to a Placer County Supervisor...at a minimum, her appointment is an absolute conflict of interest!
I'm not about to go full throttle on all County employees, but this one is WAY over the line. Mrs. Uhler may have indeed been a "darned good" Deputy District Attorney back in the mid-90's, but how exactly is it that qualifies her to be appointed as the Assistant Director of Child Support Services? We both KNOW the answer!
How can anyone keep a straight face and claim that this isn't blatant Nepotism? She's MARRIED to one of the Supervisors people...lol....what am I missing here? Here's an idea....since Mrs. Uhler is such an overwhelmingly qualified individual, maybe she should go get a job in a DIFFERENT COUNTY!!!! Perhaps a County where her HUSBAND isn't a sitting Supervisor.
I'm actually appalled that Tom Miller, Rich Colwell, Tony LaBouff and the other four Supervisors allowed this appointment to proceed. They all HAD to know this wasn't a very good idea, regardless of her qualifications...either that, or they simply don't care because there isn't a damn thing any of us can do about it except blow a bunch of hot air!
Add it to the growing list.....
- $10,000 Plane Rides
- $6,000 Steak Dinners
- Multi-Thousand Dollar Board Meetings at Tahoe Area Resorts
- Supervisor's Wife Appointed to $92K Job!
- ???????
Disgusting!
aaronklein, I guess you missed the point. The job was awarded to the lady, it was not advertised. If you could guarantee that there is no better qualified person for that job I may buy your excuse. But you can't make that guarantee, can you? Well, I guess you could, anything goes in Placer County, that dirty little County nestled in the beautiful Sierra foothills.This is very similar to what Darrell Steinberg did with a friend when he appointed him to one of those high paying State jobs without first advertising the job and seeking applicants. Oh well, Steinberg is a Democrat, that's the difference, I guess.
Before Uhler is done he's going to make Kranz and Rockholm look like the poster children of ethical politics.
Recall Uhler, fire Miller.
So now all assistant DA's are qualified for everything including child support services.? oh..please attorneys dont be so full of yourselves...Im sure there are better qualified candidates out there that actually have child support service work experience, and perhaps even a degree or two in the area of interest...yes nepotism does exist in the county and should be elimintated without union involvement...but wait..that might be a job for an attorney!
County of Placer is like a big rock turned over with a bunch of worms writhing underneath!
Gulliver, glad to agree with you on something. I guess there's common ground for all of us, right? :)
Loomisresident: you raise a very valid point. It seems like the county could have handled this a lot better to avoid criticism. Frankly, that doesn't reflect on either Tami Uhler as the job applicant, or Kirk Uhler, who doesn't hire anyone but the county CEO. In fact, if Kirk had been involved in designing the hiring process, that would have been a very valid conflict of interest.
So it's completely valid to say the county should have used better judgment in how they handled it. All I'm saying is that if you know Tami Uhler, you know that the word nepotism doesn't fit. She was a rising star with Placer County, before taking a few years off to raise kids, long before her last name became Uhler.
Wow..one more dirty thing Miller has his hands all over!!!
WOW! I really like Tami, feel bad about her taking a hit, as she is a wonderful person. It's too bad her hubby is so arrogant, unethical and a narcissist .Remember folks, Tom Miller is just the monkey and Uhler the organ grinder! When's his term up? He needs to go and so does Miller!
Gulliver and aaronklein, why make any excuses for this? Would've,Could've, and Should've are after the fact. The kissing cousin syndrome is alive and well in Placer County!
Aaron said: "Show me an unqualified person getting a job on the basis of who their spouse is, and I'll be the first to call it nepotism."
Tami never had to prove she was qualified because she was appointed by the man that her husband appointed and never had to compete in any open process that anyone else applying for the job must do. That's nepotism. I know you and you r cronies feel that if you repeat a lie often enough it becomes true, but it's not going to fly here. Just because Uhler helped with you with your campaign doesn't mean he's not guilty of nepotism. Really Aaron, go to school and learn something about ethics. Your man Uhler, Krantz and McClintock are grooming you to be like them which IMO is very sad. I expect you will be a supervisor some day if the current status quo is not rejected. Then we can expext more of the same.
I have diagrees with irritated and loomisresident in the past but both are spot on on this one. There is nothing more to add.
Meant to say 'disagreed'
Chuxx: Come now, let's not get overdone. I thought the plane ride was boneheaded and said so. (Any friend of Bruce Kranz agreed, remember the circumstances behind that one.) I'm my own person and have my own opinions. I think Tami Uhler is qualified on her own merits for this job that the county mishandled the hiring process for -- I have a right to my opinion just like you have a right to yours.
Never say never, but the chances of me ever running for County Supervisor are practically nil. I love working on education issues, and haven't seen anything about that job that I really want. And if you know anything about my record at Sierra College, you'd know that I wouldn't be a good fit with $10K plane rides and $6K steak dinners anyway. They call me the cheap *!&^#% behind my back. :)
Ha, I didn't think that was that bad of a word I typed in the last comment. But I'll let your imagination run. :)
H'mmmmmmmm, Uhler's old man is an anti-tax crusader. Kirk, on the other hand is a tax evader. Thanks goes to all the voters of District 4 for sticking the rest of us with their village idiot.
Aaron, you must know, deep down in your heart, that this is wrong. If Mrs Uhler has a degree or major experience in management then she should be allowed to apply for the job with the rest of the qualified individuals.
ChuxxR: Aaron can not respond in any sensible manner, his puppet strings are pulled by Uhler, his master.
Chuxx: I think we're saying the same thing. I'm just saying that Tami is extraordinarily well qualified for that job and would have gotten it in a public app process even if her last name was Smith.
Why the county didn't do that is boneheaded. Don't ask me why they didn't. Dumb move.
Rabid: Living up to your name, my friend. All bark and no facts.
Wait a minute, you have two of the groups who are involved in Placer County politics battling over the appointment of someone to a high paying position is there something we may not be seeing? The elected side and the union side both are among those who have sunk their fangs in to the necks of the county citizens who pay their bills. One takes our money from us and the other works hard at taking our money from them. Calling the union leaders heros here is kinda sorta like calling the wolves in the hen house heros after they have removed all of the foul so they can have a foul feast. No doubt that Placer County needs an investigative unit maybe from the US house of representatives with Nancy Pelosi named as the head investigator in order to put the county in order. On second thought maybe California's Governor should head a team to investigate. Whoops I forgot all levels of government seem to be in the same boat that Placer County is in and so it might be a mistake to have any of these government reps involved in Placer County's political structure, maybe that would only add more to the roll of politicians who would demand their share of the action. If the woman is qualified and is able to do the job proficiently let her have the job then maybe the salary of the supervisors won't climb to a $100,000.00 in the next five years.
I wonder if there was anyone who worked in the departmentfor many years and was due a promotion.
I believe that public officials must bend over backward to avoid the 'appearance' of impropriety. Tami may well have been qualified for the position, but in my opinion, she probably should have applied in Sac County if she wanted to work. There may be nothing wrong with this but its the appearance that is upsetting.
Auburn Journal readers---if you're upset, attend the next BOS meeting. Tues, August 4.
This is nothing, stay tuned for more!
Ed Bonner's kid couldn't even get a job with the S.O. because of nepotism issues, this guy should resign as a supervisor or the job should be posted like all others, I bet I'm just as qualified as this woman is, my credentials at least match hers, and I don't know anyone on the board.
I hope the FBI is watching Placer County carefully. That maybe our only hope.
LMAO...Please aaron knows where to butter his political bread...it used to be bruce but now has changed.....anyone who thinks kirk makes his money at his bos job is a fool...the real money comes by pitching solar throughout the state at the counties expense....robert is untouchable thanks to thunder valley......and in the end noone really cares because it can all be paid for by making the people who actually do the work in placer county takes pay cuts and furloughs...LOL
aaronklein, are you the hiting manager for Placer County or are you just defending the indefensible? The job was not advertised, no one could have applied for it unless they had inside information, this is known as insider trading and subject to criminal prosecution in the private sector, No matter how qualified and how nice Ms Uhler is this hiring handout stinks just like most of Supervisor's Uhler's dealings.
This is nothing more than the good old boy club in action and makes Placer County look dirtier than it already is.
Stick to education, you would not make a good hiring manager.
aaronklein:If indeed "...Tami is extraordinarily well qualified for that job..", please share with us her experience with child services. As earlier stated, if this process had been open, there would probably be at least a few qualified applicants with real experience in that field You fit your own description of Rabidog, "All bark and no facts"...
Hey lighten-up, Rabidog is the one who broke this story last week in "Stories and Blogs" section of the Auburn Journal, Press Trib, Liciln News. The papers are just following-up on it. Check it out, the stories and blogs are still there. My bite is worse than my bark!
The papers have done a good job in exposing Uhler. Keep it up. I can guarantee you the readers that there is a great deal more to come in the coming months.
Oh, "SusanZ:" yes, they were in Auburn on July 6th, 2009. More to come there too!
Having known Kirk in high school i can say this. Am I shocked no. Am I disappointed...Yup sure am. We were taught to run at a higher moral code than this. The under the table dealings is not honest to anyone involved and needs to stop. What every happened to honesty in this world.
The title to this story "Uhler's appointment raising concerns" should have been "Uhler's appointment erases doubt" instead. There have been a number of jobs created to satisfy the good old boys, the Chief Assistant CEO was the most infamous one, it was done to pacify second place winner Mr. Colwell., then a few more were created. Now they are creating Assistant Directors or Deputy Directors and of course Uhler's appointment to a job that was vacant for two years. To me that meant that the job was not really needed but kept funded so as to be able to use the funds.
Placer County is shamelessly scamming its residents, I don't know if they feel they are very powerful and can get away with whatever they please. To them I say, don't underestimate the power of the people. It won't be the first time that a County has been investigated by a non County agency, oh yes, Law Enforcement agency
UhHuh: It's not child services. It's child support services. Collecting child support payments from deadbeat dads, etc. It used to be a unit of the DA's office, where Tami was a deputy. I don't know if she worked in that unit before or not -- I think she was pretty well rounded in the cases she worked on -- but we're not turning a lawyer into a social worker here. This is a legal function.
Loomisresident: I'm not sure how much clearer I could be. My only comment about the hiring process involved the word "boneheaded." Not sure how that made you think I was defending the hiring process. I have hired and continue to hire a decent number of people on a regular basis (private sector, not at Sierra College), so I understand a good hiring process when I see one, and I wouldn't call this one well-thought out. :)
That being said, my only point in commenting here is that I know Tami Uhler. Not incredibly well, and I probably see her at social events only every six to nine months. But I know her. She's smart, well qualified and was a rising star in Placer County long before her last name became Uhler. So let's not kid ourselves and think she got this job because of who her husband is. That's the extent of what I've been trying to say.
aaronklein: The Foresthill bridge is for sale: buy it!
The mere fact you are on the Sierra College Board gives one sudden chills.
You are on the losing side of this battle, so you may as well go back to screwing-up whatever you do in business and the community.
As a flaming liberal retired former civil servant and union steward, I think finger pointing here is in the wrong direction. If people, especially employees don't like the hiring method involved in Tami Uhler's appointment, then it is incumbent upon them to ensure strong unions and make sure the civil service commission is operating in a fair and legal manner. Either this position required advertising, or it didn't. Apparently it didin't. I suspect it will pass the test of not being nepotism. It is probably croneyism, and that is apparently SOP here in Placer County. I worked in another county and it was common for managers to recruit from former colleagues or friends, and for people from the same famiiles, albeit working in separate offices or under different supervisors. Mr. Uhler is in a position to be Mr. Miller's direct supervisor, but not his wife's. I'm pretty sure all this palaver was anticipated. If people don't like what has been wrought, then they need to look where the holes are in the system that allows what seems to them apparent impropriety. My hunch is this looks like the hiring in other counties and government entities. I also suspect Tami Uhler will perform in an excellent manner and was an appropriate choice for the post. People of Placer and Placer County employees are responsible for this by not seizing the power available to them, not Kirk Uhler. Sorry to disappont any of my fans here. .
Don't forget to add Uhler's ridiculous kiddie deer hunt proposal for Granite Bay and Loomis to his growing list of ethical lapses. See www.placerdeerhunt.com for all the details. The man is a piece of work, and it's time to throw him out.
Is anyone investigating the solar company allegations? Is his solar company actually doing business with the county? How on earth is that acceptable to anyone with a conscience?
Well Rabidog? I was there this morning at the Board meeting, ALL THE SUPES were there at the Board meeting. Where were you? If you were there, you didn't say anything. I think as Mr. Klein stated previously, all bark and no bite. Pathetic. For all else reading, want to know the real reason Rabidog has it in for Uhler, Weygandt and Rockholm and not Holmes and Montgomery? The reason he’s willing to spread lies? More to come on that soon. Rabidog’s true motives makes Uhler, Weygandt and Rockholm look crystal clean,which is quite an achievement!
Well, at least her twitter page very much reflects that she's eminently qualified. So classy, and no signs of nepotism at all.
http://twitter.com/Uhler4
Placer County residents have NO IDEA how far reaching the corruption of our county agencies goes. It impacts all agencies including Health and Human Services, Placer County Superior Court and Child Support Services. Each agency covers the other to ensure that word does not leak out just how corrupt they truly are. Some of the actions taking place in Health and Human Services include children being taken from their homes for no reason and placed in Foster Care as this brings in revenue for the County. Other serious crimes are also committed by personnel in this agency. Child abuse is occurring at the Youth Resource Center (YRC) while Children's System of Care turns their backs and allows it to happen. Placer Superior Court refuse to acknowledge judicial abuse in its courts and the Presiding Judge covers his good ol' boys club by denying investigations into Judicial misconduct. Child Support Services also covers their tracks of wrongdoing by enlisting Placer County Supervisors to reject their indescrepencies. Placer County is known to be one of the most corrupt counties in the State of California and perhaps in the Country.