Branstad falls short of campaign pledge

A troubling pattern is emerging with the high-level managers who run Gov. Terry Branstad's state government.

We have a human services director who was unaware of isolation policies at the Iowa Juvenile Home, a Veterans Home commandant who bullies staff and residents, and an economic development director who received enormous bonuses and took a private tour of an Italian convent while on “official business” in Europe.

Two recent developments are even more troubling. First, the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy assistant director made highly inappropriate sexual remarks to co-workers and to female cadets in a sex abuse investigation class. The only consequences he received were a warning and his duties as the academy's Violence Against Women Act coordinator were taken away, but his pay was left unchanged.

Now we have learned of the sudden resignation of Department of Public Safety Commissioner Brian London just weeks after he fired the agent who blew the whistle on the governor's speeding sandal. One can only wonder what the real story is behind his firing, I mean resignation.

I think the governor has failed to honor his campaign pledge of a transparent and scandal-free government.

Danny Homan

President,

AFSCME Iowa Council 61

Des Moines