Chesterfield’s County Administrator in Need of Frequent Flyer Miles!

Wow, it was reported this morning that Chesterfield County’s long-time County Administrator, Lane Ramsey, paid $18,000 (in County funds) for a charter flight out of Chesterfield to pick him up and rush him back home from vacation during the holidays due to the arrest of County Supervisor Edward Barber on sex related charges.

I guess the question most folks are asking is why was it so important for Ramsey to rush back home so quick? After all, it was Christmas time and the County’s Board didn’t have a meeting until sometime in January. Realistically what could Mr. Ramsey have done at that point? Console Supervisor Barber? Also, it was pointed out today by Julian Walker of the Richmond Times Dispatch that a next day flight from Wichita would have been less expensive, and more importantly for Ramsey, less controversial.

A check of a travel-reservation Web site last night listed one-way next-day flights from Wichita to Richmond in a price range of $249 to $816 plus taxes and fees. A Continental Airlines flight leaving Wichita at 11:10 a.m. today would get a passenger to Richmond by 5:15 p.m. The price, including taxes and fees, would be $301 -- about one-60th of what Chesterfield taxpayers paid to get Ramsey back to the county.

By all accounts Ramsey Lane is a competent and professional public servant. If I had to guess this decision by Mr. Lane was likely an (expensive) error in judgment – which he seems to indicate as well. Maybe Mr. Lane could make this situation right by offering to pay the difference between what a next day flight would have cost, versus the 18K it cost to charter a plain out of Chesterfield to pick him up? (I would guess that he could afford it too) Regardless, the damage has been done; and it will be interesting to see what the public’s reaction will be once this story has more time to settle in.

I think the lesson here - as I’ve often stated - is that sometimes even good people can make poor decisions.

Note: The flight that Mr. Ramsey took was likely not as luxurious as the Concord!