Leadership changes at state human rights agency

DES MOINES – The outgoing director of the state's Department of Human Rights began a new job Friday in a different state agency.

Isaiah McGee, who failed to win confirmation last April by the Iowa Senate in the human rights post, accepted a position of education program consultant for achievement gaps and student equity within the Iowa Department of Education that was offered to him by DOE Director Jason Glass.

That announcement was made Friday by Gov. Terry Branstad, who also named Danielle Plogmann to serve as interim director of the state Department of Human Rights – where she had been serving in a different executive position. Plogmann also began her new duties on Friday.

During the Senate confirmation process earlier in the current 2011 legislative session, senators voted 30-20 to turn down McGee as Branstad's only African-American nominee to a directorship within the governor's new administration. A minimum of 34 votes, or a two-thirds majority, of the 50-member Senate currently controlled by majority Democrats is required for any gubernatorial nominee to be confirmed.

In rejecting McGee's appointment, senators at the time pointed to a contention by Iowa human rights leaders - including members of commissions that make up Iowa's Department of Human Rights – over allegations of a “gag order” that compromised the work they do. On the day of the Senate vote, McGee sent an email to legislators indicating there would be no retaliation against anyone associated with the department for talking to the Legislature but key senators said the “gag order” controversy did not sit well in a legislative year heavily focused on government openness and transparency.

Branstad expressed his “extreme” disappointment with the Senate's action and allowed McGee to continue serving as state human rights director during the allotted 60 days following the confirmation vote before announcing his new assignment on Friday.

“I am excited Isaiah will be joining us, because he has numerous talents and knowledge that will benefit the people of Iowa,” Glass said in a written statement issued by the governor's office. “He is the exact right person for this job, as we need to continually serve the needs of all students in Iowa. Isaiah is passionate about education and will offer thoughtful solutions to the challenges we face in our educational system, and work to see those solutions through.”