November 09, 2005

Appointment process for Hennessee faulted

OREGON
The Oregonian

Wednesday, November 09, 2005
HARRY ESTEVE
Allegations of sexual abuse against Matt Hennessee might have come to light and prevented him from attaining high positions in state government if Oregon's vetting process wasn't so vague and secretive, state Sen. Vicki Walker charged Tuesday.

But a spokeswoman for Gov. Ted Kulongoski said the governor's office asked Hennessee whether there was anything in his background that might cause trouble, and "he said 'no.' "

Kulongoski appointed Hennessee to the board of Saif, the state's worker compensation insurer. Hennessee resigned from the board in August. At the time, The Oregonian was investigating allegations that he sexually abused a close relative more than a decade ago, when the girl was 12 or 13 to 16. ...

Hennessee is a Baptist pastor and chief executive officer and president of Quiktrak, a Beaverton-based inventory auditing company. Monday, the Quiktrak board placed him on indefinite administrative leave. The church is standing behind him.

Posted by kshaw at November 9, 2005 08:13 AM