New details on hiring of former Mass. highway official

BOSTON (AP) - State officials are releasing new information about the 2007 hiring of Sheila Burgess, the former director of highway safety whose personal driving record included multiple accidents and traffic violations.

Secretary of Public Safety Mary Beth Heffernan said Friday that Burgess' driving record had been collected as part the screening process during the hiring process, but that information was never turned over to the hiring manager.

In a statement, Heffernan said if the hiring manager had been aware of the driving record, Burgess would not have gotten the job.

The state also released a copy of Burgess' job application, which listed Heffernan and U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, as references. Burgess said she had worked as a fundraising consultant to McGovern.

Burgess was removed last month from the highway safety post and later resigned from state government.

Cox Media Group