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Politics Extra
Enquirer reporters give the scoop on what your politicians are doing


Jessica Brown,
Hamilton County reporter


Jon Craig,
Enquirer statehouse bureau


Jane Prendergast,
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Malia Rulon,
Enquirer Washington bureau


Carl Weiser,
Blog editor


Howard Wilkinson,
politics reporter

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Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Public employee took LESS money


When Jen Winkelman (right, in picture) decided she wanted to move back home to Madeira from Washington, D.C., she brought $150,000 in student loan debt with her.

Then why did she reject the $42,000 per year salary Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper offered her -- and instead accept an annual salary for $2,000 less?

To save money.

Really.

Winkelman, a 1998 graduate of Madeira High and 2001 University of Cincinnati graduate, left Cincinnati with an undergrad degree -- and no debt -- when she moved to the nation's capitol.

But after her 2005 graduation from American University's Washington School of Law she'd amassed $150,000 in student loan debt -- costing her about $1,000 per month.

"That's a mortgage," Winkelman said.

She returned home recently and Pepper hired her as one of his two employees. Bridget Doherty, (at left in picture above) his campaign spokeswoman, took a job as administrative aide and its $49,500 annual salary.

Pepper admits he offered Winkelman $42,000 per year.

But Winkelman, 27, said it would help her more if she made just $40,000.

Her law school has a loan forgiveness policy for graduates who go on to work in "public interest service." That essentially means those who work for non-profits or governments.

By accepting $2,000 less per year, Winkelman will save about $6,000 annually in the loan forgiveness program, she said.


20 Comments:

at 3:47 PM, January 03, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good for her !

She knows how to use the system !

I wonder if she talked with the county engineer about her retirement ?

 
at 4:47 PM, January 03, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

She might be cuter than Doherty--frugal too.

 
at 5:34 PM, January 03, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Come on! No body looks better than Bridget Doherty...

 
at 6:33 PM, January 03, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

All the talk about what Pepper is spending on new employees but nothing about the savings from not employing Roberts & Finney.....

 
at 7:13 PM, January 03, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a hot staff!!!

 
at 10:46 PM, January 03, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bridget Doherty doesn't have neck....plus, she could look much better if she shed a few pounds. However, I'd take her anyday over that pro-abortion Jen

 
at 12:02 AM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

This woman has a bachelor's degree and a law degree and she's taking a job as an Administrative Aide? Earlier we learned Mr. Pepper hired a convicted drug user as his political consultant.

I'm glad to see our new Commish is hiring such overachievers. I think he really is trying to do for the county what he's done to the city.

 
at 4:29 AM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is this really a story!!! Nothing better to put in the blog than this.

 
at 6:53 AM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Someone should ask this hottie out. Sounds like she's broke.

 
at 9:04 AM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd do the same thing. Smart girl. But why do we have a headline suggesting she just wanted to take less money from the county? Come on, be fair. She's helping herself.

 
at 10:50 AM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why isn't the Enquirer reporting that our Mayor is being investigated. Once again, Weiser opts for fluff.

Cincinnati mayor being investigated in BWC probe
By PAUL E. KOSTYU COPLEY COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS Mayor Mark Mallory of Cincinnati, a former state senator, is under investigation for trying to influence the Bureau of Workers' Compensation to lower premium rates for an electric company.

But the mayor didn't know he was under investigation. There's some confusion about who knew what when.

Jason Barron, a spokesman for Mallory, spent several days trying to correct stories last week, including one by Copley Ohio Newspapers, that reported an investigation of Mallory by the offices of the Ohio inspector general and legislative inspector general.

Copley Ohio printed a correction Tuesday, while The Associated Press ran a correction Saturday. Both corrections were unnecessary.

Similar investigations all tied to the bureau and lower premium rates are under way involving the governor's office, state Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, and five other lawmakers. Sources familiar with the investigation expect more lawmakers to be named as investigators weed through 500,000 e-mails and other correspondence related to the issue.

All of the lawmakers and Gov. Bob Taft have denied wrongdoing, saying they were providing constituent services. Lawmakers received letters sent Nov. 13 from the legislative inspector general asking for material dealing with premium and claim issues before the bureau, typically the first step of an investigation.

Mallory said Tuesday he did not receive the letter, which included a request for records from 2004 involving Bertke Electric. Its bureau rates went down after Mallory's office contacted the bureau, apparently more than once.

The letter didn't go to the mayor. It went to his successor, state Sen. Eric Kearney, D-Cincinnati, and was passed on to Mike Deemer, the legal counsel for Senate Democrats.

Legislative Inspector General Tony Bledsoe said he could not acknowledge whether any investigations are under way, but he did not dispute press reports about the investigations. He said his office loses jurisdiction when a lawmaker leaves the General Assembly.

The issue of lawmaker influence came to light after the release of bureau records following requests by newspapers. There is an ongoing investigation of the bureau by a state task force.

No one from Kearney's office nor the Senate Minority Caucus contacted Mallory to let him know he was under investigation.

Schuring said Tuesday he asked Bledsoe to expedite his case, but Bledsoe said he can't.

"We cannot change the investigative process," he said. "We have to do due diligence for all the people involved."

Reach Copley Columbus Bureau Chief Paul E. Kostyu at (614) 222-8901 or e-mail: paul.kostyu@cantonrep.com

 
at 10:55 AM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kimball, I don't remember you doing these types of stories on Rob Seddon.

 
at 11:27 AM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

so if she took even less would she get even more forgiveness?

 
at 12:07 PM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

So she is taking $2,000 less ro she can screw the system and get out of her obligations? Maybe Daddy Pepper can pay her complete loan off for his boy.

 
at 1:55 PM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

It continues to crack me up that some people continue to get their panties in a wad because the Enquirer reporters don't always choose to use the blog for "hard core" news.

Here's a tip for you: go to Google and type in the following: define:Weblog

 
at 7:32 PM, January 04, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps Bridget can use her investigative skills to help Pepper and Portune throw the corrupt Repugnicants into jail.

 
at 4:44 AM, January 05, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice to see our new employee is using the system so she does not have to pay back the money she owes!!!

 
at 7:17 AM, January 05, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good to see everyone bashing a law school program designed to financially assist grads wanting to work in public service as opposed to choosing a lucrative private sector career. A lot of law school have similar programs.

 
at 9:35 PM, January 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the program set up by Winkelmans's school is great and there is nothing wrong with what she is doing. I respect the fact that she has left our country's capital to work in our hometown.
Also, before morals are questioned perhaps you should recheck the work she has done in the past.

 
at 2:19 PM, February 01, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jen's not beating the system. She's just decided to work for The People than be a greedy pig and make 6 figures at a law firm.

You go girl. And I know what a hard worker you are. You'll knock 'em dead. I don't think they deserve you in Ohio!

 
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