 |
 |
HEARING ON CUNNINGHAM SLATED FOR MARCH 15 Labor and Economic Growth Director Paula Cunningham will face the Senate Government Operations Committee for her confirmation hearing on March 15. Ms. Cunningham was named to succeed David Hollister, and her appointment was official just a few hours after she resigned as president of Lansing Community College. Ms. Cunningham resigned following an ongoing dispute with the college's board of trustees. It was reported Friday that she had accepted a severance package from the college with the provision that she not sue. The dispute proved so controversial in the Lansing area that some individuals have talked about starting a recall campaign of the board. Ms. Cunningham in her role as LCC president generated much public support, including a letter to the Lansing State Journal from Michigan Chamber of Commerce President James Barrett. Ms. Cunningham has been mailed a questionnaire asking her to discuss policy issues in the position, said Ari Adler, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema (R-Wyoming). But she should also expect questions about the LCC controversy from the committee, he said. While named earlier this month, Ms. Cunningham is expected to begin work the department early in March. The NAACP is already working to garner support for Ms. Cunningham. Mr. Hollister left the department to become head of a Lansing-area development group, an organization that Ms. Cunningham helped set up before her resignation.