I read in the Dec. 31 Political Scene under “new gigs” that Amy Kempe, the $134,349-a-year spokesperson for eight years under Rhode Island's “invisible" attorney general, Peter Kilmartin, will not have to worry about employment since the Community College of Rhode Island announced she has been hired as the new $127,000-a-year director of marketing and communications.

In May 2016, The Providence Journal reported that an individual leaving the same job at CCRI made $84,872 per year. Why is Amy Kempe from the attorney general's office given a job now paying $43,000 more per year? Did she refuse the job at $84,000? Did she say no to $99,000? Who hired her and who else applied? Was anyone with a background working in higher education considered?

What did she learn from the past eight years that would qualify her for the job of marketing and communications for a community college that offers free tuition? It may be a new year but we are still stuck in the “I know a guy” state of mind.

John DePetro

East Greenwich

The writer is a radio talk-show host.