Busalacchi Abused Authority

Nothing like a little political retaliation to get your hand slapped. 

State Department of Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi abused his discretion when he transferred his chief counsel out of a job, a state hearing examiner has determined.

The proposed decision - the first formal ruling since Jim Thiel was moved out of the job 3 years ago - provides little remedy. It says Thiel, 64, can have his old job back when it next comes open, which could take years. He also may be able to recover his attorney’s fees.

Busalacchi transferred Thiel out of the chief counsel job and made him a staff attorney one business day after Thiel angered Busalacchi by releasing records to the Journal Sentinel before Gov. Jim Doyle’s office could be alerted to the disclosure. Thiel had held the job for 31 years.