Nolan Finley's Blog

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Posted by Nolan Finley (The Detroit News) on Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 4:02 PM

Granholm should testify in Blackwell case

There's a possibility that Gov. Jennifer Granholm will be asked to testify in the corruption trial of former Highland Park Emergency Financial Manager Art Blackwell. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy could request Granholm's testimony, and if she doesn't, Blackwell's defense attorney, Ben Gonek, says he will.

Someone ought to.

Granholm should be asked to explain how Blackwell was allowed to go from a salary of $1 a year to $11,000 a month. Granholm says she thought after a year of working for near nothing, Blackwell deserved a decent salary.

Once she is on the stand, maybe someone will explain why Granholm appointed Blackwell, who enriched himself during a career of public service and whose ethical lapses are well documented, to manage the finances of a bankrupt city.

If the answer is anything but pure cronyism -- Granholm and Blackwell worked together under the late Wayne County Executive Ed McNamara -- it would be fascinating to hear what it is.

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About this Weblog

Nolan Finley is Editorial Page Editor of The Detroit News, a position he's held since May 1, 2000. He directs the expression of the newspaper's editorial position on various national and local issues, and also writes a column in the Sunday newspaper.

Prior to that, Finley was the newspaper's Deputy Managing Editor, directing the newsroom.

Previously, he served as Business Editor, and in various editing positions on the city, state and metro desks. He was also a reporter, covering Detroit City Hall during the Coleman Young administration.

Finley has been with the newspaper since 1976, starting as a copy boy in the newsroom while a student at Wayne State University. He is a graduate of both Schoolcraft College in Livonia and Wayne State, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in journalism. In 2001, Schoolcraft named him its outstanding alumnus.

He is a native of Cumberland County, Ky.

Call him at (313) 222-2064. Or click here to email him.

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