[KYHAM] Transportation Secretary is moving to Emergency Management

[Ron Dodson]

Frankfort, KY (March 22, 2005)-Governor Ernie Fletcher today announced 
the resignation of Maxwell Clay Bailey as Secretary of the Kentucky 
Transportation Cabinet. Bailey will become the new Director of the 
Department of Emergency Management.

“Clay Bailey has an exemplary record of service as Secretary of the 
Transportation Cabinet,” said Governor Fletcher. “Under his leadership, 
Kentucky has made great strides toward meeting my administration's goals 
of a safe and reliable transportation system that leads to economic 
opportunities. I am confident Bailey will meet his new challenges in 
Emergency Management with the same vigor and determination as he 
exhibited in the Transportation Cabinet.”

Governor Fletcher appointed Maxwell Clay Bailey as Secretary of the 
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in December 2003 and tasked him with 
bringing efficiency and better business practices to the Transportation 
Cabinet. In the first year alone under Secretary Bailey's leadership, 
the Transportation Cabinet realized cost savings of $74.5 million 
through greater control over change orders and reducing other costs like 
overtime and the amount spent on asphalt.

“I'm proud of the accomplishments our Cabinet has realized in the last 
15 months, and I am confident based on the vision of Governor Fletcher, 
and the quality of employees we have, the Transportation Cabinet will 
continue to work toward improving business practices and bringing more 
savings to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth,” Bailey said.

Before being appointed as Transportation Secretary, Maxwell Clay Bailey 
spent 32 years with the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant General, 
retiring in March 2002. General Bailey's last assignment in the Air 
Force was Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, where he 
oversaw the deployment of special operations forces in Afghanistan 
during Operation Enduring Freedom. After his military service ended, 
Secretary Bailey developed programs to assist Kentucky law enforcement 
agencies with Homeland Security through the Department of Criminal 
Justice Training.

“Secretary Bailey informed me he wanted to resign as Transportation 
Secretary in order to be considered for the position at Emergency 
Management,” continued Governor Fletcher. “His extensive military 
experience makes him the ideal person to run the state's Emergency 
Management operations. I'm confident he will do an outstanding job and 
the people of Kentucky can take comfort in the fact that we have someone 
of Clay Bailey's caliber in charge of Emergency Management.”

Bill Nighbert becomes acting Transportation Secretary. Nighbert 
currently serves as the Transportation Cabinet's Commissioner for the 
Department of Intergovernmental Programs. Nighbert has also served as 
the Deputy Commissioner for the Governor's Office for Local Development 
(GOLD). Before moving to state government, Nighbert served three terms 
as the mayor for the city of Williamsburg. The search to fill the 
cabinet position of Transportation Secretary begins immediately. 
Secretary Bailey's resignation from the Transportation Cabinet is 
effective today.


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