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Resigned Ky. highway engineer disputes statement

August 26, 2008 @ 11:06 AM

2008/The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch.com

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A former state highway engineer is disputing a statement about his resignation made by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The Courier-Journal in Louisville quoted Gilbert Newman on Tuesday as saying a statement in a cabinet news release that said he had “participated in discussions and decisions” about a state road project next to his property were “a blatant lie.”

Newman told the newspaper by telephone on Monday the only action he took regarding the project was to sign a change order for it and that was by mistake. He said he didn’t realize that part of U.S. 421 ran by property he owned in Franklin County.

Cabinet spokesman Chuck Wolfe had no further comment, but noted the Executive Branch Ethics Commission is looking into the matter.

Newman and an aide, Bill Gulick, resigned under pressure Friday after an internal auditor discovered a possible conflict of interest on a road construction project.

Newman said in his resignation letter that he had signed the order “without reviewing the details.” The letter said he regretted any embarrassment to Beshear’s administration and that he would cooperate with any investigation of the issue.

Newman said he turned over all responsibilities for the widening of U.S. 421 to Gulick after meeting with Franklin County officials earlier this year about local projects.

“From that point forward I had no knowledge of the direction the project would advance, nor did I attend any meetings in which this project was discussed,” Newman’s letter of resignation states.

Newman and two others bought the property in 2005, before Newman joined Beshear’s administration.

Newman said his resignation “was demanded” by Transportation Secretary Joe Prather.

In the cabinet’s release on Friday, Prather said that “even the mere perception of a potential conflict must, if possible, be avoided.”