State Rep. Mike Barbieri Resigns…. to take a State Job he is actually qualified for.
State Rep. Mike Barbieri has resigned from the General Assembly effective at the end of the month to take a job with the Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Substance Abuse.
He’ll be taking over as the new director of Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health under the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS).
The new post continues Barbieri’s work in this substance abuse and mental health field. In 1992, he founded Crossroads of Delaware, a Wilmington-based adolescent substance abuse treatment program. By taking the post, he’s relinquished ownership of the facility to prevent any perceived conflict. He also worked as a probation officer in Philadelphia’s drug unit and served as executive director of a drug treatment facility in Bel Air, Maryland.
“Barbieri brings a wealth of knowledge about addiction and mental health services, and the needs of vulnerable people across our state,” said DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf in a written statement. “With his background in social work, and substance abuse treatment and recovery services, he is the ideal person to lead this division.”
I normally balk at a situation where a State Representative takes a state job, because it normally looks just too damn convenient. Like the situation with Rebecca Walker and others before her. But this is a situation where it seems like Barbieri is the most qualified and experienced guy for a job.
Barbieri currently represents the 18th RD in Newark. A special election will be held between September 2 and September 16, as a new election has to be held between 30 and 45 days after the vacancy, which will occur on August 3.
So, good luck to one of the good guys. He will be missed.
@Delaware Dem “But this is a situation where it seems like Barbieri is the most qualified and experienced guy for a job.”
So you were on the interview panel for this Director’s job??
He is not only professionally and academically qualified for the job, his work in the General Assembly demonstrates true expertise in this field.
I’ll really miss him in the General Assembly.
I’ll give Barbieri “qualified” and “experienced.”
Without knowing who else was in the pool, and whether the search extended beyond state lines, you can’t say he’s the “most” of anything.
And, no matter how well liked he is, this hiring is every bit as convenient as Rebecca Walker’s.
El Som, you know I respect your opinions, and agree with you more often than not, but the key difference here is that you have a higher opinion of Barbieri than you do of Walker.
BTW, I’ve had no dealings with either of them.
The differences are, among others, Walker sponsored legislation that ultimately created her position. She set up a system where the police and the medical examiner are under the same department, and is now in a position to play gatekeeper on the behalf of the cops she has championed at every turn.
Barbieri is in a position to do good for people who really need the services he has both provided and championed during his professional career. I’ll take someone who champions those who have very few champions versus someone who is a police groupie, and now can protect the police from evidence, any day.
just wish he could have simply supported parents’ rights like the overwhelming majority of his peers. Not voting on HB50 was shameful.
From the News Journal:
“State health secretary Rita Landgraf said Monday afternoon that the position, an appointment, was not advertised and does not need to be.”
Hmmm… Seems like the General Assembly is a good spot to have influence on the issues that are important to him.
I think there is a significant legal issue whether Rep. Barbieri can be appointed to the Director’s position. Section 14 of Article II of our State Constitution bars a sitting member of the legislature from being appointed to a civil office when the emoluments (salary) for such office have been increased during his term in office (and before his appt.). It’s an age old prohibition that has been in our State Constitutions since 1792 and which tracks a similar federal constitutional prohibition for members of Congress.
Rep Barbieri’s present term began last November, 2914 with his reelection. On Jan. 1, 2015, the salary for the Director of Substance Abuse increased pursuant to mid-year pay raises doled out in the FY 2015 Budget Bill. Thus, the salary for the office of Director increased during of Rep. Barbieri’s term of office and before his appt. Under a plain textual reading of the “Ineligibility Provision” in Section 14, Article II, Rep. Barbierir cannot be appointed to the Director position until the expiration of what would have been his present term in 2016.
This is the same problem that Sen. Hillary Clinton faced when Pres. Obama appointed her Sec. of State. It required Congress to roll back the salry of the Sec. of State in order to allow her to serve as Sec. of State.
That’s interesting, Gary. If your reading is correct, then (I think) that Rebecca Walker is in the same boat. She helped pass the legislation that CREATED a job she would ultimately occupy.
Of course, in typical Delaware Way fashion, I doubt whether anyone will step up to challenge this. Maybe someone could request an opinion from the AG?