Your tax dollars paid my salary

Because of their roles as advisors, negotiators, and spokespersons, chiefs of staff and communications staff are some of the most visible employees at the State House.  These staffers are blasted and praised on any given day, but the negative comments are usually the loudest. As the former communications director for the Senate Republicans, I was referred to as Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, a hack and a mudslinger.

It’s all part of the job. When people agree with the issue, a chief of staff is complimented for moving the process forward and the communications team is praised for informing the public. When people disagree, a chief of staff is in the pocket of the special interests and communications directors are manipulative liars. Whether you believe these staffers improve government, are partisan spinsters, or any combination, you should know how your tax dollars are spent on their salaries.

I spent some time on The Maine Heritage Policy Center’s new open government website, which shows how taxpayer dollars are used for state employee salaries. I came across some interesting information when I looked into the chiefs of staff and communications teams.

All earnings are from 2007, the most recent available, and do not include employee benefits. (Note: staff changes have taken place since the end of 2007. Contact each office to learn the most current staff breakdown.)

Grand Totals

• 7 – number of chiefs of staff
• $542,248 – taxpayer dollars spent on chiefs of staff
• 10 – number of communications staff
• $450,924 – taxpayer dollars spent on communications staff
• $656,772 – taxpayer dollars spent on chiefs of staff and communications staff at Democratic-run offices
• $214,794 – taxpayer dollars spent on chiefs of staff and communications staff at Republican-run offices

Governor’s Office

• Jane Lincoln – Chief of Staff, $100,672
• David Farmer – Communications Director, $64,262
• Joy Leach – Deputy Director of Communications. $48,412
• Dan Cashman – Assistant Press Secretary, $41,998
• $255,344 – total taxpayer dollars spent

Senate President’s Office
Beth Edmonds (D-Freeport), Senate President

• Rick McCarthy - Chief of Staff, $90,892
• Roger Fenn - Communications Director, $55,757
• $146,649 – total taxpayer dollars spent

Senate Majority Office
Libby Mitchell (D-Vassalboro), Majority Leader
John Martin (D-Eagle Lake), Assistant Majority Leader

• Peggy Schaeffer – Chief of Staff, $68,659
• Michael Johnson – Communications Director, $52,947
• $121,606 – total taxpayer dollars spent

Senate Minority Office
Carol Weston (R-Montville), Minority Leader
Richard Rosen (R-Bucksport), Assistant Minority Leader

• Hon. Mary Small – Chief of Staff, $60,190
• Chris Cinquemani – Communications Director, $28,674 (Jan. - July)
• William Thompson – Communications Director, $7,060 (Oct. - Dec.)
• $95,924 – total taxpayer dollars spent

Speaker of the House’s Office
Glenn Cummings (D-Portland), Speaker of the House

• Toby McGrath – Chief of Staff, $82,959
• Tim Feeley – Communications Director, $54,090
• $137,049 – total taxpayer dollars spent

House Majority Office
Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven), Majority Leader
Sean Faircloth (D-Bangor), Assistant Majority Leader

• Jesse Connolly – Chief of Staff, $68,684
• Travis Kennedy – Communications Director, $49,046
• $117,730 – total taxpayer dollars spent

House Minority Office
Josh Tardy (R-Newport), Minority Leader
Bob Crosthwaite (R-Ellsworth), Assistant Minority Leader

• Alison Sucy – Chief of Staff, $70,192
• Jay Finegan – Communications Director, $48,678
• $118,870 – total taxpayer dollars spent

The new transparency the Maine Open Government website offers is a great tool to keep the public informed of how their tax dollars are used.  The site offers information beyond state employee salaries.  You can also see the retirement and employee benefits earned by state workers, as well as government expenditures to vendors.  We have a right to know how our tax dollars are spent and this new website gives us that information.  Visit www.maineopengov.org to learn how your tax dollars are being spent in state government.  

Chris Cinquemani is the communications director of Maine Leads, an Augusta-based non-profit working for lower taxes and government transparency in Maine. Chris previously served as field coordinator and communications director for the 2006 Taxpayer Bill of Rights Campaign, communications director for the Maine Senate Republican Office, and state director of the 2007 No More Than 4 Campaign to oppose extending term limits for state legislators.