AJC: Deal skirts state policy in hiring new state mental health ombudsman

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Gov. Nathan Deal's appointee to a six-figure job as the state's mental health ombudsman has no previous experience in the field and previously served as scheduler for former Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Deal named Corinna Magelund to the mental health position earlier this month at a salary of $107,000 a year - $25,000 more than her predecessor, though she was given more responsibility.

Magelund has worked most recently at the state Department of Community Affairs.

The mental health position had gone unfilled since the departure of Jewel Norman last August. Mental health advocates had called for the governor to appoint someone.

The job involves helping patients and their families navigate the state bureaucracy to get the services they need.

Bart Gobeil, the state's chief operating officer, says Magdelund's experience in state government qualifies her for the position and defended not going through the usual procedures in hiring her because the post had been vacant for almost a year.

(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford contributed to this story.)

Gov. Nathan Deal

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/6/239956