CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM TO: Tobin Armstrong January 25, 1982 Pat Oles FROM: Martha AlworthAI\ RE: State Employment and Training Council Chairman - Jim Currey At the request of the State Employment and Training Council Executive Director, Steve Smith and Council Member, Wes Creel, Polly Sowell and I met with them today to discuss the problems the council is having because of it's Chairman, Jim Currey. Creel and Smith emphatically recommend that Currey be replaced as ChaiLman but they asked he stay on the council as a member. According to them, Currey is an embarrassment to the Governor by acting "extremely right wing" in his negotiations with CETA people across the state and by repeatedly making racial slurs. Numerous examples of Currey's behavior were given, on which I can elaborate if you wish. A suggestion would be to advise Currey that WPC likes to rotate the Chairmanship every two years and present him with a nice plaque or resolution for his service on the council. As you probably know, Currey is an Eagle Republican, has been a loyal party worker for years and has spent his own time and money traveling throughout the country to attend meetings and has not billed the State for any of these expenses. However, he appears to be extremely offensive and pushy and should be removed as Chairman within the next few days, if possible. A suggested replacement was Karl Rove for a short period of time to get the council straightened out and to see what further cuts will be made in March at the Federal level. Another alternative is to completely remove Currey from the council and put him on the I.O.C.C., telling him the Governor needs him there more than the SETC, and have him serve on the same committee as Bruce Calder who has an influence on his behavior. MA cc: Polly Sowell
