FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky’s unemployment director was quietly fired in May as the state dealt with a record number of jobless claims due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Office of Unemployment Insurance Director Muncie McNamara was fired May 5 “without cause,” four months after being hired, WFPL’s Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting reported, citing his personnel file.
McNamara, 38, said his firing stems from raising concerns about the office cutting corners in its rush to fulfill an unprecedented number of unemployment claims.
The Cabinet for Education and Workforce Development disputed that in an email, saying the concerns were not a factor in his termination.
Gov. Andy Beshear was asked about McNamara’s firing Monday at a press briefing.
“I think everybody wishes the situation didn’t turn out like it did,” Beshear said. ”There are lots of hirings in the public sector that don’t go well.”
McNamara told WFPL he was an attorney with no direct experience with unemployment systems when hired.
He supported Beshear’s gubernatorial campaign and his wife, Audrey Haydon, considers Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman “a good friend,” according to an interview she gave to the Kentucky Standard. McNamara said Coleman called him personally to offer him the job.
J.T. Henderson, executive director for communications at the cabinet, confirmed McNamara’s support and that Coleman and Haydon are friends.
“That support did not factor in Mr. McNamara’s hiring,” he said. “He had previous public service in Maryland and had practiced in Social Security disability, workers’ compensation and personal injury.”
Kentucky’s unemployment office was handling about 3,000 claims a week when McNamara started in January. Then the coronavirus hit followed by Beshear ordering all non-life sustaining businesses closed. Unemployment claims skyrocketed and the office was processing more than 113,000 claims a week by the end of March.
“What I had to learn, I learned very quickly,” he said. “There was a learning curve at the beginning, but I feel like I got up to speed very, very quickly.”
He said he raised concerns about several issues shortly before his termination, including data security, conflicts of interest and compliance with federal regulations.
“I’m sure that I made people unhappy while I was there, by pointing out issues and concerns I had,” he said. “However, when I saw problems or potential problems, I felt obligated to point them out.”
McNamara’s supervisor and the Cabinet for Education and Workforce Development disputed many of his concerns and fired him a week later, according to the termination letter in his personnel file.
Since then, McNamara has hired an attorney and filed an appeal with the Personnel Board.
Beshear’s office said in an email that he was not involved in the hiring or firing of McNamara.
Labor Secretary Larry Roberts is now running the Office of Unemployment Insurance, according to Marjorie Arnold, Chief of Staff of the Kentucky Labor Cabinet said.
Meanwhile, since he was terminated, McNamara has filed for unemployment and is receiving benefits, WFPL reported.
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