As part of its responsibility to protect public health, the state
Department of Agriculture in July hired a new "agriculture marketing and
inspection representative" for tasks such as inspecting livestock and
poultry at farms or fairs.
Several applicants had extensive professional and educational backgrounds in farming, breeding of livestock, and production of milk, cheese and other foods -- but they were all passed over by state Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli, a former Republican state legislator.
As reported in the Sunday Government Watch column, which can be read by clicking here, Prelli instead hired a former pizza restaurant chef and school bus driver with no experience or schooling in farming: Debra Hinman, who had worked as his executive secretary in the commissioner's office since 2007, when she was referred to him for that job by the office of Republican Gov. M. Jodi. Rell.