But she's a Democrat !!??!! What other qualifications does she need ?? Giving away the taxpayers money to tell people that they really really ought to drive safely.

There should be a review of some sort, made by an independent board, to look into these political appointments. This lady might be a good fund-raiser and devoted political (I'm going to go ahead and call her a hack) but she has no business heading up this division. Even without looking at her driving record she's clearly not qualified for this job. Stunning. Good catch Globe. Hopefully she will lose her job. I'd feel better if she lost her license to drive as well. Talk about do as I say, not as I do.

Nice to know our Governor is making appointments based on qualifications.  She could have had a resume consisting of much expertise in the traffic safety field, but if she were a Republican, she would not have a chance.

How many other such political appointments?  

Can we ever be represented and governed by trustworthy people?

For any semblance of seriousness this totally incompetent imbecile must be immediately fired! This is appalling. I voted for Deval Patrick and he should decide before tomorrow to do the Trump thing, "You're fired!" By not doing so the phrase, "You're doing a good job, Brownie, comes to mind." Oh, and Timmy, stick a fork in yourself, you're done. I won't vote for you for anything. But it does look like you have the prerequisite to become safety chief!

Talk about experience! Who better to lead the safety department than someone who's been around the block a few times -- all she needs is a DUI and a road rage incident to make the safety Hall of Fame! Hopefully she recovers to continue Lt. Governor Murray's private driving lessons.

These are the actions that continue to undermine government's credibility. Where to start? A drunk in charge of a safe driving program. A staff of 6 to administer $2M.  Her appointment is a brazen flip of the bird to taxpayers and those who believe in government's role.   Are people starting to understand why there is such a resistance to increase taxes in the state? 

It is examples like this that give expanded government and its liberal advocaates a bad name.  Can we trust Lizzy Warren's new "consumer protection" bureau to spend billions of dollars wisely?  I have my doubts.

Thank you, Boston Globe, for investigating and reporting this!  This is why we need to support this paper.  

Truly a hack's hack. I guess she learned to drive from her mentor Lt. Governor Murray. Of course she is getting paid while out of work. What Dem doesn't? This is incestuous. Just the latest in a long line of moonbats appointed by Deval and cronies.

Looking forward to the 9am press release tomorrow confirming the firing of Mizz safety chief (without pay?) Deval. Disgusting what's buried right under our noses and still, not nearly a cry for accountability from the top. What a Cesspool.

For every person like this hack, there are probably 20 more doing the same thing.  Appointed jobs with no qualification other than they know someone in state government.  I wish we could throw them all out and start over!

From the article: "Her resume cites, among other duties, that she “facilitated all fund-raising and events for the congressman as well as other candidates as required.” " Why tell your kids to go to college? Just get them a job in this state of fundraising wh-res. I am disgusted. The comments from the quote above could have been given after numerous quotes in this article. And the bothersome part of all of this, aside from this article and the people involved, is that IT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. And Tim Murray wants to be governor? It makes sense to the who-es. It really does. Not qualifications, not habits, not morality, but how many people to you make money for. Sickening.

a shining example of a traveshamockery

This type of investigative reporting is what makes a great newspaper. The Globe's gushing endorsements of favored pols like Elizabeth Warren are what discredits them.

The Athens of America. But, not so wrong if you know about comtemporary Athens -- the feckless government (not even able to collect the majority of taxes), the corruption, the dirt. In short, not a meritocracy. But, hey, just like Mass.

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Now, what is the "driving safety"  scandal, the compounding pharmacy scandal, the drug testing scandal, and low low nursing home ratings trying to tell us about Mass?  Could it be that Mass cares more about "the tribe" and "good people" having a successful and easy life than it does about individual freedom (drug testing), health (compounding pharmacy), life -- or long, happy, comfortable life (nursing home quality)? Could it be that "members of the cloth" (the annointed members of the "tribe") are more important that "the flock" (the unwashed masses)?  (I know there are lots of very hard working, caring, and extremely skilled and competent Mass employees -- I've known some -- and this situation is so sad for them.)

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But, can anyone think of where this sense of priorities comes from? (After all, like the vast majority of scandals it does not just -- POP! -- appear from nothing; It builds slowly and inexorably over time.) Do you think Republicans are not this way? Say, because of the care they showed in not letting mortgage companies and banks take advantage of the individual?

Is this Saturday Night Live????

Good story. Thanks to Mr. Murphy and the Globe. (I mean it -- reporting like this is why we still need good journalists and good newspapers.)

Political operative on the inside track experiances derailment. Hack community shaken.

Lt Gov material as a running mate for the present Lt Gov

This is an easy "administrative leave" candidate

Really disappointing to read this. Thanks to the Globe for reporting.

"and while officials say she is on “approved leave,” they have declined to say whether she is getting paid."

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OK, I'll bet she IS being paid -- anyone want to take the other side?

wow...it's because of stuff like this I changed parties in this state...although I bet it happens to any party that gets and maintains its majority power

Nice work.  One thing you might try, though it could be annoying work for a reporter, would be to get a list of all similarly appointed persons, randomly choose a subset of them, and check to see if they are qualified or not for the position.  If you get 1 in 20 unqualified, we can call them bad apples, and look into tweaks.  If we get 10 in 20 unqualified, uh-oh.

My cell phone carrier shows the date and time of every incoming and outgoing text. I think the police can get this info to see if she was texting while driving. I wish the Globe would push harder to get this info. Skills she gained to organize fundraising campaigns can be easily transferred to organizing safety programs. I dont doubt she was capable to do her job. But, she is not a good choice if she can't practice what she's preaching. She's lucky she hasn't hurt anyone else. I wish her a speedy recovery. I think this job requires someone who truly believes and acts safely.

Thanks to the Globe for exposing another case of "fraud" on the taxpayers. How does a person like this, get, and manage to keep, an $87,000 a year job with her driving record and total lack of experience for the position. It's disgusting. She should be fired immediately- most people are struggling to just stay employed these days, and would be fired in a heartbeat for this kind of job "performance". Did I mention that this is really disgusting?

So why is this woman still in her post? Or is she maybe serving as the poster girls for continuing the rest of the world's perception of MA drivers as the worst in the entire United States?

I agree with the gist of earlier posts.  When I read this piece, I immediately flashed to other patronage-like hiring scandals (e.g., Probation, Lottery).  Stories like this one raise legitimate doubts for taxpayers about the competence of their government, and by extension, whether their tax dollars are being well spent.  Bottom line is Gov. Patrick owes the public a response to this story -- fast!

Is this the best we could do after the obligatory nationwide search?  Nice reporting, Sean.  It's good to give the voters a taste of how Massachusetts government really works and the consequences of electing only Democrats. 

This is what the voters of Massachusetts want. They were apoplectic over the fact that the Massachusetts Congressional delegation included a centrist Republican, so they threw him out at the first opportunity they had to correct that mistake. Then reelected John Tierney despite the scandal surrounding him. The position of Speaker of the House is populated by criminals. The Lt. Governor - who has announced he wants to be Governor - walks around in a cesspool of corruption of his own making. But they are unapologetic and unrepentant because they don't have to be either. This is one party government at its worst. 

Motlik,  I agree that some want it this way, but I think most are just passive sheep. They've been told to let their leaders handle things without giving them any push back, or they'll lose their in with the tribe (and perhaps be punished, indirectly, of course, with no ability to connect the dots), and they're either too meek, or too lazy to object. After all, a lot of them have to keep quiet for these things not to come out. There are a lot of people who know a lot of things that would be highly explosive if they came out.

I think it's also time for a review of the Parole department reorg. More political appointments and nepotism or all cleaned up?

I think it's also time for a review of the Parole department reorg. More political appointments and nepotism or all cleaned up?

This is what gives folks fits about Massachusetts politics. This person obviously has no qualifications for her job. She apparently thinks rules of the road do not apply to her. This article will cause some action. She should be fired but I bet since she has been there since 2007 and has had an accident that caused a "head injury" she will now apply for disability and receive 75% of her $87,000 a year salary tax free for the rest of her life. What a racket. We pay.

How many elections does it take before Mass voters finally realize that when they vote across the board Democratic, what they get is a complete machine geared with one mission to provide jobs for it's own no matter how unqualified, no matter the cost to the taxpayer. No matter what voters wanted. The machine in Massachusetts is out to protect and provide for it's own, period. Election rhetoric be damned. Speaches sound great but politicians don't let that crap get in their way.

 The machine, and it truly is a genuine machine, has one mission. Stay in power and provide jobs for it's minions, no matter the position, no matter how unqualified a minion may be. Year, after year, after year, after year. How long will Mass voters be willing pawns in this example of Tammany Hall northeast?  Only when Mass voters finally become responsible, study the issues and stand up to hold elected and appointed officials fully accountable, will you see change. When will that be; hah, great question! Don't hold your breath, and the machine is counting on that!

Massachusetts is America's cradle of liberty. What the hell went wrong? 

Stop with the it's all because of the democratic machine crap. If the repubs were in that position they would be doing the exact same thing. Repubs are no better than Dems when it comes to patronage and cronyism. Stop giving unqualified people jobs on the public dime.

what a loser. fire her, and the person who hired her.

why do all these scandals happen under gov patrick? probation

? drug lab? this?