Colbert named agency director

February 3, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Gov. John Kasich named the interim head of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as that agency’s permanent director, adding the first person of color to his cabinet in the process.

Michael Colbert was formerly chief financial officer at the department and has served as interim director since Kasich took office. In fact, he took the oath of office with the rest of the governor’s cabinet members during midnight ceremonies early last month.

Colbert previously served as a senior audit manager in the state auditor’s office. He is a U.S. Army veteran and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting.

He will serve as director of the largest state agency, with an annual budget of more than $20 billion and about 3,700 employees. It oversees unemployment, work force development, public assistance, adoption and other services.

“I’m honored to be named, and I’m happy to serve,” Colbert said during a press conference near the Statehouse Wednesday. He added later, “The Great Recession has presented the department with many challenges, budget constraints and rising case load. ... Challenges bring opportunity, the opportunity to do things differently and the opportunity to do things better.”

The appointment followed increasing criticism from the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and other groups about the lack of racial diversity in his administration. Last week, black lawmakers threatened to file legal action if Kasich fails to name more people of color to his Cabinet and top agency management positions.

But Kasich said race was not a factor in Colbert’s selection.

“Michael earned this job,” he said. “Michael didn’t get this job because of his race. I’m excited that he happens to be an African-American. But he didn’t get it because of that. He got it because of his experience.”

That said, Kasich acknowledged the importance of having different communities represented in his administration.

“Diversity does matter, because it does give you ... at times, a very different point of view,” he said. “ We will have more people of diverse backgrounds in this administration. But I’m always going to search for the best and the brightest and those that share my philosophy.”

He added, “We haven’t seen the end of efforts inside our administration to find quality people that share my philosophy who bring more diversity.”