Lynch administration adviser Ned Helms to resume his post as director of the UNH Institute for heath policy and practice. Helms' departure comes after Republicans questioned the propriety of Helms working full-time for Lynch while collecting a $113,000 salary from UNH.
Yesterday morning Governor Lynch said concerns about Ned Helms's role in his administration were ill founded. In fact, the governor held up Helms' service to his office as a model of intra-governmental cooperation.
"Not only do I think it's perfectly appropriate, I think we should encourage that type of behavior. We're all working together for the people of NH, doing what we think is in their interest -- and that's what Ned has been doing."
--So you were surprised that people have brought this up?
"Yes, I was surprised. And, again I think what we should be doing is encouraging people from one part of state government to work with people, who are in other parts of state government. We're certainly a small enough state so that behavior should be encouraged."
But by late afternoon, the Helms arraignment was not only no longer being encouraged -- it was history.
"As the state's public university we take out public service very seriously, but if it's going to cause undue disruption, we don't feel that's working in the best interest of the university or the state."
That's UNH spokesman Jennifer Murray. Both she and the Governor's office stress that the institute Helms Helms has served the state since 1999 and has won government contracts under the past three administrations. UNH and the Governor also agree that Helms' exit from the Lynch administration was prompted by a request from university president Ann Weaver Hart. In a statement, Hart noted that the health policy institute's mission is to advise state agencies and the Governor's office regardless of party affiliation. Her statement bore the headline -- "UNH president disappointed that service to the state is confused with partisan politics." And while partisanship has no doubt fueled some of the controversy. It wasn't its cause. At least according to the person who first raised the Helms matter publicly.
"The best paying job in the state of NH seems to be that of a volunteer."
Exeter House Republican Marshall Quandt says he's know Helms for two decades, and likes him. But he says that does not change the fact that volunteer staffers raise problems......Pointing to the controversies surrounding Jeanne Shaheen use of a loaned Executive from the New England Telephone company, and the Benson adminstration reliance on controversial volunteer staffers. Linda Pepin, Ray Marshall and Angela Blaisdell. Quandt says at a minimum volunteer workers raise legitimate perception issues.
"It's very difficult when you have a key position in the Governor's office for anybody to believe that you are not in the position to influence agencies, department heads, or whatever, and I think that's one of the things the Governor has to be very careful of -- that appearance."
Ned Helms's return to the UNH Institute for Health Policy is effective immediately. Meanwhile, Deputy House Speaker Ken Weyler has requested legislative auditors look into Helms state compensation while he ran the institute and during his stint working for Governor Lynch.
