Ohio Civil Rights Chief Quits, Muslim May Step In

(Columbus, Ohio) After less than six months in the job, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) chairman, Barbara Sykes, has abruptly quit. Sykes' resignation was submitted immediately prior to her requested appearance at a rare confirmation hearing before an Ohio Senate committee, where she appeared to face certain rejection.

Appointed by Gov. Ted Strickland in August, Sykes lost favor by vigorously shepherding a maternity leave rule which was opposed by Ohio's business leaders who asked that the issue be given more time. Sykes declined.

Gov. Strickland also asked Sykes to slow down action on the proposed maternity leave rule. Sykes rejected the governor's request. As a consequence, Gov. Strickland, through spokesman Keith Dailey, said he wouldn't support Sykes' confirmation for Ohio Civil Rights Commission chairman.

Hopefully, readers will notice the contradiction. In August, Strickland picks Sykes to run the OCRC and, in December, Strickland says he won't support his choice. He was for her before he was against her.

One might suggest that Gov. Strickland needs to reassess his vetting process for political appointees. Loyalty, gratitude and the ability to measure political winds, attributes that Sykes seemingly lacks, might be missing on Strickland's prospective appointee checklist.

Regarding a replacement for Sykes, interesting news and commentary out of Columbus appears to indicate that a front-runner for the OCRC job is Ahmad Al-Akhras, a former Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) officeholder and Islamic leader. Although Al-Akhras has a reputation for persistent Islamic activism, some might say extremism, he nonetheless has elbow-cozy relationships with both Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and Gov. Strickland.

Coupling the above with insider news that Al-Akhras has resigned from his high-paying position with the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the speculation regarding a future political appointment with the OCRC is understandable. Be cautioned that speculation is still at the fortified rumor stage.

I'll update as more nuggets are panned from the situation.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.