FRANKFORT — Bill Nighbert, the former Transportation Cabinet Secretary, has resigned his job with the office of Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville.
Nighbert resigned on Friday, July 11, according to Williams’ Chief of Staff Becky Harrelson.
Nighbert was Secretary of Transportation for Gov. Ernie Fletcher and was indicted and pardoned in the Merit System investigation of Fletcher and his administration. Williams hired Nighbert as an adviser on transportation issues when Fletcher’s administration ended after he lost last fall’s gubernatorial election to Democrat Steve Beshear.
“He told me when he came here, he was going to stay on for maybe only six months,” Williams said Monday. “He called me and said he thought it was a good time to move on.”
Attempts to reach Nighbert by telephone were not successful and he did not return a message seeking comment.
Williams said Nighbert has accepted a position with an employer in southeastern Kentucky, but he didn’t know the name of the company. He said he thought the job involved consulting on financial matters for local governments.
Nighbert’s resignation occurs while a reported grand jury investigation is under way into the awarding of road contracts by the Transportation Cabinet during Fletcher’s administration. Williams said Nighbert made no mention of that in his resignation.
Williams said he hired Nighbert in December because of his experience with transportation issues, local development and local government. Before joining the Fletcher administration, Nighbert was active in the Kentucky League of Cities and served as mayor of Williamsburg.
“I knew then he couldn’t stay long from the very beginning,” Williams said. “He told me he’d been talking about working for some other people, but he had some restrictions on when he could take a job in the private sector.”
Ethics regulations require time to lapse before some government officials can go to work for private businesses that might do work for or with the state.
Williams said Nighbert was paid an annualized salary of about $70,000 “and I knew I couldn’t keep him long for that amount.”
He said Nighbert’s advice was “invaluable” on transportation matters during the regular session and in preparing for litigation between Williams and Beshear over the governor’s veto of the legislatively passed road plan and Beshear’s substitution of a plan devised by his administration.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.
Local News
Nighbert resigns
Leaves Williams’ office for unknown position
- Local News
-
- Two arrested on criminal trespass, public intoxication charges
-
Tax reform suggestions coming by Nov. 15
Gov. Steve Beshear on Thursday announced the members of a Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform and said it will offer recommendations by Nov. 15 to make the state’s tax system more responsive to changes in the economy and fairer for taxpayers.
-
Released felon arrested again
It was what jail officials were afraid would happen, and in fact they anticipated.
-
More infected bats found in state
White-nose syndrome has been detected in another Kentucky county, but it has yet to be found at Mammoth Cave National Park.
-
Ambulance board OKs outsource billing
After a thorough discussion during Wednesday’s board meeting, the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Services decided to outsource its billing to AMB-MARS (Medical Accounts Receivable Systems doing business as AMBulance Medical Billing), contingent on AMB-MARS adding a guarantee clause on its work.
-
Teen named local youth of the year
Rayne Triplett has been practicing the speech she will give at the end of the month when she travels to Frankfort to compete for the Boys and Girls Club’s 2012 State Youth of the Year title.
-
Howard lauded for G/T work
Glasgow Superintendent Sean Howard was presented the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education’s Michael Caudill Educator Award on Monday at the annual KAGE conference in Lexington.
-
Teens to be tried as adults
Barren Circuit Court released the names of two juveniles charged in an armed robbery in October, after the court decided to try the teens as youthful offenders in adult circuit court.
-
Payne pleads guilty to lesser charge
A Glasgow man who had been facing a felony charge of custodial interference pleaded guilty Tuesday in Barren Circuit Court to a lesser charge.
-
Rowland will take Comer's seat for now
A Monroe County businessman will fill the unexpired term of former state representative Jamie Comer, according to the results of Tuesday’s special election.
- More Local News Headlines
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
