Abele Aide Who Helped in Sting Operation Reappointed After Delay

Greendale resident Pat Farley learned today that he would be able to continue serving as director of the Department of Administrative Services, after the county board delayed the vote last month.

County Executive Chris Abele attributed the delay to Farley's role in a sting operation that helped prosecutors charge former Supervisor Johnny L. Thomas Jr. on felony bribery and misconduct, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Farley oversees the county's budget, contracts, purchasing and computer systems.

Abele, Farley’s top supporter, said in a statement, “Pat is supremely qualified to continue in his role. In his first year on the job he helped me balance a $55 million budget deficit and is hard at work on next year’s budget. I want to thank the 14 Supervisors who sent the right message today about open and honest government.”

Supervisors never publicly acknowledged that sting was the reason against reappointing Farley. Some supervisors cited his lack of visibility at committee meetings, failure to reach out to the board to brief them on the issue and delays on picking a firm to do a study on county buildings.

Supervisor Patricia Jursik said Farley wasn’t qualified for the job because he did not have a business or accounting degree. Instead Farley has a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School, is a former Assistant District Attorney for Milwaukee County and served as head of Administrative Operations for the state of Wisconsin.

Jurik said the position of director of administrative services "is not a job for an inquisitor general."

Supervisors received a number of letters supporting Farley, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.