Fined Aide Lands on Her Feet
February 1st, 2010
A fine from the city Conflict of Interest Board apparently does not mean exile to a kind of city government rubber room. Soon after word came down (as reported below) that Maura Keaney, a former deputy chief of staff for Council Speaker Christine Quinn, had been fined for soliciting campaign contributions while she worked on legislation to reform campaign finance, the Department of Education announced schools Chancellor Joel Klein has appointed Keaney the department’s director of external affairs.
In that post, she will head up the department’s “legislative and government affairs, media relations, community relations, and family engagement and advocacy.” Keaney replaces Micah Lasher, who after navigating mayoral control of schools through the legislatature, is now the mayor’s chief lobbyist in Albany.
The release included lavish praise for Keaney from Klein and Quinn — and no mention of the fine.
Keaney recently served as field director of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2009 re-election campaign. This appintment provides yet another indication the mayor is finding jobs for those who helped him win that campaign — regardless of any ethical lapses or the state of the city budget..
Keaney starts work Wednesday.
By Gail Robinson on February 1, 2010, 3:05 pmIn category: City Hall, Education, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing | No Comments »

