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We came across an interesting story at trivalleycentral.com about a “friend” of Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and his minions getting hired to a swell-paying job — even though he’d been placed on the county’s “do not hire” list.
Reporter Adam Guab wrote that Manuel Vega, 24, was on that list, but District 2 Republican Supervisor Cheryl Chase hired him as her assistant anyway.
See also: –Babeu’s “Elite” Staff Overcomes Bad Behavior with Loyalty –Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu’s Medical-Marijuana Connection: His Spokeswoman Chase made a request to her former boss — Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu — to reconsider the hiring status for Vega, who had resigned abruptly from the Sheriff’s Office in 2010 after having been caught lying about his work experience in an interview for a higher position in the agency, Guab reported.
Babeu orchestrated Vega’s rehiring — despite county records indicating that he was dishonest — by announcing that county officials found “merit” to his appeal.
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It’s not unlike Babeu rehiring Jayme Valenzuela and giving him one of the top jobs in the Pinal County Jail. County records revealed he had a work history with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office — and other jobs — steeped in poor, unmotivated job performance.
He also was one of Babeu’s political supporters.
Chase’s comments to the local newspaper help explain such brow-raising hires:
“I have known Manuel Vega for several years as a friend,” Chase said in a statement issued Friday. “He is extremely qualified and has done a wonderful job in helping me represent the county. I felt he was an excellent choice for the community relations administrator position and I would continue to recommend him.”
