Cindy Gonzalez
LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers on Wednesday confirmed Gov. Jim Pillen’s appointment of Matthew McCarville as the state’s chief information officer, despite a controversial email sent on his behalf that raised concern among some senators.
State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, chair of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, acknowledged that McCarville made a “mistake” in asking an assistant July 30 to send an email that encouraged his workforce to participate in a legislative hearing on Pillen’s plan for property tax relief.
But Brewer said that McCarville, who has been in the post since April, was clearly qualified for the position.
“We need to have public servants who can admit when they’re wrong,” he said.
The vote to confirm was 36-0, with nine senators not voting.
Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln was among the Government Committee members who previously grilled McCarville about the email during his confirmation committee hearing, which unfolded just hours after the email was sent.
She said Wednesday the “rather strange timing” of events clouded discussion of McCarville’s “incredible” educational background and compelling personal story.
At the time, McCarville told the Government Committee that he self-reported the incident to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission and that the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office also was aware. McCarville said he was told that neither office felt there was a violation of state law.
Wednesday, however, NADC executive director David Hunter said the agency could not comment because there may be an ongoing investigation involving the email situation.
State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue said Wednesday during legislative debate on McCarville’s confirmation that the email mistake was “pretty darn big” and said she could not support his appointment.
States Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha challenged McCarville’s statement that he had voluntarily self-reported the incident to authorities. Cavanaugh noted that she had received complaints from whistle-blowers that morning and quickly distributed copies to news reporters and others.
State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha said McCarville is a “really talented tech guy” with an impressive resume and record of service and said that he’s “probably the right person for that job.”
However, she said, the email pressured and created a “serious chilling effect on employees.” Hunt said she is concerned about a culture in Pillen’s administration that would cause “good people like him to send out these partisan campaign emails against their better judgment.”