REPORT: State Revenue Head Hired Wellesley Friends For State Jobs

BOSTON, MA — Those looking for a job in the Department of Revenue would have a leg up on the competition if they lived in the department head's neighborhood or were members at the local country club that he belonged to, according to a new report.

The Boston Globe reported Monday that Michael Heffernan, the state's revenue head, provided six-figure salaries to fellow Wellesley residents, members of the Wellesley Country Club, and other associates.

Heffernan didn't respond to a Globe request for comment, but according to State House News, Governor Charlie Baker told reporters, “Many of them are doing this because they were public-spirited and wanted to do public service, and yeah, I have no problem with that. As somebody who learned as much in my time in the private sector as I did in the public sector, I think private sector time is very helpful and useful with respect to working in the public sector."

Heffernan has been in the cabinet position since August. Since then he's made hires literally close to home. His chief of staff, Philippe M. Mauldin, makes $140,000 a year and lives two homes down from his boss. Another Wellesley resident, William McNamara, works as the department's deputy commissioner for legislative affairs and policy director and spends time on the links at Wellesley Country Club. He pulls in $141,000 a year. He has since moved with Heffernan to the Executive Office of Administration and Finance

Suzanne Kisiday was recently hired as the department's marketing and digital service director, with a $90,000 annual salary. She also until recently lived a mile from Heffernan and was a member of the Wellesley Country Club.

Click here to read the full report.

Photo by Alison Bauter for Patch