Marcia Seiler will lead the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission while the agency's 16-member leadership panel seeks a permanent director.Seiler is the LRC's deputy director for education accountability. Her office is charged with monitoring Kentucky school districts to ensurethey're following state guidelines. (Here's a 2009 story from the CHNI News Service that explains more on what Seiler's office does.)The LRC's leadership panel—made up of state legislators from the House and Senate—made the appointment Wednesday, Jonathan Meador is reporting for WFPL.The LRC provides administrative support to Kentucky's legislators. Robert Sherman, its last director,resigned last month following the conclusion of an internal inquiry into sexual harassment allegationsmade by two LRC employees against John Arnold. In his resignation letter, Sherman said the investigation was handled "promptly" and that "protective measures" were implemented.Arnold, a Democrat from Sturgis, resigned from the state House following ethics complaints filed by the two women. In his resignation letter, Arnold wrote that he didn't believe he'd sexually harassed the women. (Past coverage of the John Arnold allegations from WFPL and the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.)On Tuesday, those two womenfiled a lawsuit against Arnold, the LRC and Speaker Greg Stumbo, claiming sexual harassment. A third woman filed a suit against state Rep. Will Coursey, a Democrat from Symsonia, and the LRC, claiming retaliation. Jonathan is in Frankfort now and will report more on the LRC meeting later today. Stay tuned.
