UF stands by Haridopolos hire

UF administrators today are standing by their decision to hire Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, as a $75,000-a-year guest lecturer for its politicial science department and its new Graham Center for Public Service, a sort of political think tank and experience vessel for students.

"He fits in very well with the Center's mission," said Joe Glover, interim dean of UF's liberal arts college. "He'll help with our internship program, and that requires some connections, someone who knows people. The Center has a political affairs agenda, and he's up there helping to create the future of Florida."

Haridopolos, a powerful lawmaker, started the annually renewed gig this month and is supposed to spend this spring working mostly from the Capitol, helping UF poli sci students get internships and other political experience, said Joe Glover, interim dean for UF's liberal arts college. The rest of the year he'll teach, though it's not clear how often, in Gainesville.

But UF faculty question the deal, saying they didn't get enough input into the hire, which could benefit UF politically - and certainly benefits the senator financially. But Glover said the Graham Center's director and former Gov. Bob Graham himself met with Haridopolos "for a good hour" before offering him the job.

Haridopolos expressed interest in the job, so UF officials decided to consider him, Glover said.

He replaces an assistant professor who made $70,000 a year and recently left for a NATO job overseas. Haridopolos' salary comes from the liberal arts college's budget. The college has been embroiled in scandal the past couple of years after overspending by millions of dollars, a problem that led to the former dean's ouster.

Haridopolos formerly worked for a Florida community college, but not since August. He said he has taught since 1993. "I liked my job at the college and I look forward to teaching at UF," the senator said Thursday.

Comments

something is rotten in the Gator Nation

[Gator-doll]

Ah folks - you forget - this guy is already a PUBLIC SERVANT - he works for us so paying him to do the job AGAIN - and here I considered the Gators were the smart ones.

The Gators are now just a Republican "Pork Barrel" incarnate.

All you Democratic Gator alumni, I'd stop the yearly donations as you are lining the pockets of Republican public servants. I've cancelled mine.

Hey stupid exactly how many Republicans do you think there are running UF? Correct...NONE!!

GO GATORS!!

[David]

Hey Gator Democrat riddle me this? If this was so bad then why would Bob Graham (who is a D) allow this to happen? You think he didn't give the go ahead?

Get a life you puke.

$75,000 a year and ...

"The Center has a political affairs agenda, and he's up there helping to create the future of Florida."

Sounds like they are thinking of him as a paid lobbyist...

12:28 -- BINGO

[terminator]

this is why schmucks like Machen want to jack up tuition....so they can pay guys like surfer dude Haridopolous to talk about politics.

Haridopolous is one the guys who gave us that big tax savings called amendment one.

maybe he wants to teach students how to bamboozle the general public with obstructionist tactics that only benefit the Florida Senate at the expense of taxpayers.

"like hang ten Mikey"!

remember Graham wants higher tuition too!

I think the larger issue with the faculty is losing their stranglehold on liberal indoctrination of your kids.

Haridopolos has a libertarian-leaning philosophy, and that goes against their agenda.

Don't truly "powerful lawmakers" give and not receive?

I hope that when the U presidents start whining about how they need more money,somebody remembers this.
On the other hand, as I'm sure they think, this could reap them a whole lot more money. Nothing like having a long-time member and potential Senate president on board!
Meanwhile, we'll just overlook any little matters like academic credentials.
At least anyone else who might have hoped for the job can see the realities of why they weren't hired, and how they just could not compete.

Isn't it funny how the Democrats cry foul when a Republican invades their elitist Academia that they have controlled for many years. I would like to see more Republican teaching at UF. There is already enough liberal representation on our campuses. This may be the start of something to counter that.

[GvilleJohn]

As I said yesterday, you cannot trust Big Bernie. The Haridopolos hire seems to be at most a blatant attempt to give undue compensation to a sitting legislator who may be voting (and at least influencing fellow legislators) on money bills favoring UF. It is at the least an appearance of impropriety. What the Times does not tell you, though, is that the average salary for a lecturer in political science is $40K and the only lecturer in the department without a Ph.D. (which he does not have) makes a little over $27K. And, of course he will be only part time since his duties in Tallahassee will keep him from the campus. So what do you think he has to do to earn the windfall? Does he owe any favors to Bernie? Questions that are fairly asked.

[GatorHawk]

When I was a student at UF Lawton Chiles had a class and he was habitually late and never had office hours.

Haridopolos is at least an academic. His career has been as a professor.

[Gavin]

Mike Haridopolos was a professor long before he ever ran for political office. Mike has a strong background in education.

Professor Haridopolos has been a professor at Brevard Community College and a visiting professor at universities.

He is a true academic whose focus is on education.

He will bring a focus on public service that is definitely lacking.

[UF Student]

As a current Political Science graduate student at UF, I see this as a great move to further UF's access to government and political opportunities in Tallahassee.

[Trent]

Too damn many Liberals at UF any way. I am tired of their cliche politically correct drivel.

[Little Joe]

I graduated with a degree in PoliSci from UF and good luck finding a job in politics. Having someone like Professor Haridopolos will allow students an opportunity to know how to break in and find that first job.

What next- GOP Chairman Jim Greer hired to teach female anatomy classes?

Is there any conflict of interest, given that Haridopolous has sway over the very budget that pays his salary?

[deep throat]

No.

4:10..yes. He should now abstain from all votes and decision making related to UF funding and governance...anything less smells of conflict of interest.

[TK]

deep throat...if he is an employee of UF...how is it not a conflict of interest if he is called on to vote on the funding between FSU and UF...? Gee, I wonder who will win out?

then again, isn't Sen. Justice still a paid employee of USF?

I always thought he was a little naive about business matter - thus his push for the recently passed amendment. The guy has no experience and is now using his position to get a high paid job. It is a litte revolting that people like this make decisions that affect the rest of us.

UF should be ashamed of themselves. Would he even be hired if he wasn't going to be president of the Senate. Will he keep his job when out of office.

Further, why is the President Machen endorsing McCain. I bet he is only president at an AAU university endorsing national candidates.

Florida State is the only university without an outside paid lobbyists. They should be in the AAU.

Considering he'll spend very little time actually performing the duties he's being paid 75,000 a yr for, that ends up being a sweet hourly rate.

[terminator]

Gavin:
just exactly what are Senator Haridopolous academic credentials (in all due seriousness)?
Does he have a PHD? Used to be "professors" had PHD's and had done dissertations.
Has he even done a dissertation?
Wow, forgive me for not being that impressed by his stint at that Harvard of the South (Brevard Community College).

UF Student and Little Joe:
you losers should have gone to FSU, then you wouldn't have to worry about gaining access to everything the Capitol has to offer.
Advantage Noles!

[UF Student]

Terminator,

Academics shouldn't be the only people teaching classes, especially political science. Professionals with real world experience are an invaluable tool for students. In my Master's program, Political Campaigning Program, we have Pollsters, General Consultants, Communications Directors for U.S. Senators and lobbyists teach portions of our class. Which is better...academics who have mostly zero real world political experience or a combination of academics and practical professionals?

I chose UF because 1. It is a better school than FSU and 2. Because of their Political Campaigning Program (look it up).

With all due respect to the bloggers on this thread. This is much ado about nothing.
If any of you would do a little research, I am convinced that you would find other legislators of both persuasions who have in the past, and are currently teaching at Florida colleges and universities.
The problem is that many of you who have college degrees believe that that means you know more than others. Here is a clue---just because you have a piece of paper does not mean that you actually learned anything or can apply what you might have learned to everyday life. You actually need to live outside of your government job in Tallahassee.
Get over yourselves and your over-inflated egos.

Ask Rod SMITH if Hairy is qualified. He can't define the taxes that talks about with such authority.

Go Gators!

[terminator]

11:02 (Senator Haridopolous)
Thanks for those informative words!

UF Student:
maybe you're not learning everything you should be in class.

FSU students would be able to tell this is merely a blatant move by Bernie Machen to "BUY" access to a state senator whom he thinks will be in a position of power to further his agenda of pressing for higher tuition rates thereby gratifying his own salary and ego and disenfranchising thousands of Florida kids who will be shut out of a decent college education.

Sounds like you should go back to Polysci 101!

Ps And Haridopolous should be investigated by the Ethics Commission and be required to recuse himself on all financial matters relating to the UF.

Surprised he didn't get an opinion before accepting the job... but then again, maybe he did... and the SPT didn't do their homework...

If he didn't, I am sure there is some Dem activist who will be happy to file a complaint...

[UF Student]

It is certainly a move that will help UF, both in representation at the capitol and it's students who will have more better access to practical political knowledge. This recuse talk is nonsense. What you are saying is that any legislator should not be able to vote on any financial matter where they have either a direct or indirect relationship with the subject. If that were the case, dozens of legislators would be abstaining on bills every session...any legislator that owns a home could not have voted on Amendment 1 while in the Legislature because it has a direct impact on their own personal homes.

[terminator]

UF Student:

I think they call it "conflict of interest"

And in this case it's not only blatant, it's in your face.

Seems like one of Senator Haridopolous private sector benefactors could have offered him a similar gig and it probably wouldn't have generated the same amount of publicity as this.

Dumb move on his and Machen's part which will come back to bite them in the butt.

[UF Student]

You're predictions are also spot on Terminator...lol

[terminator]

UF Student:
now now, let's not let jealousy cloud your judgement.

FSU has more has-been political hacks on the payroll than UF can ever aspire to. The most blatant was the Kate Kearney hire to teach administration skills to social workers. Those who knew of Kearney's history as DCF Secretary are still gagging. Thanks to Larry Abele for that hire.

[terminator]

11:30
true but there is a BIG difference between an upwardly mobile CURRENT state senator and downwardly mobile former political hacks.
Since FSU is the state capital it just happens to be a convenient parking place for the deadwood.
Look at how many losers Jeb parked over at DOE in the legacy office!

11:30 Agreed. There is a huge difference between Mike H at UF and Rhea Chiles' crony and business partner Bill L at FSU. Bill L is paid about twice as much as Mike H and has nothing but a Bachelor of Architecture from UF. At least Mike H has a masters' degree and is working on his dissertation. Mike is an up and coming. The hacks that Abele hires are down and going.

11:02 = Ken Pruitt, Mike Fasano, or Rudy Garcia

He was hired as a professor and never shows up. When asked why he is never there, reply was, i was hired to write a book. Not sure he ever wrote the book on politics 101. This is the way legislators make money. Their legislative pay is very low and they suddenly have a contract with some college or hospital board. It stinks to high heaven.

I hear they are also going to hire the other brilliant powerful legislator. Larcenia Bullard.