Rhoades Criticizes Liquor Control Board CEO Hiring Process

HARRISBURG -- Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) criticized the process used to hire a CEO for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board at a public hearing of the Senate Law and Justice Committee today.

The focus of the hearing was the creation of a new $150,000-a-year CEO position at the PLCB and filling the post without a nationwide search. Rhoades criticized PLCB Chairman Patrick Stapleton and PLCB member Thomas Goldsmith for not making the process more open and accountable to the public.

"The process was wrong," Rhoades said. "There was no sharing with this Committee, and there was no sharing with anyone else."

Rhoades added that the questionable hiring practice is particularly damaging while the Legislature is working to create a more effective, efficient and accountable state government.

"We want government to be more transparent and open to the public, but this process has created a shadow over it," Rhoades said.

Rhoades urged the PLCB to consider a more open course of action for any future decisions that would spend taxpayer dollars and possibly affect consumers at the state-run liquor stores.