Brett Blackledge is at it again this Sunday…and there will be more. Today’s target is Sen. Quinton Ross (D-Montgomery) who runs the adult education program at Trenholm College (for higher pay than anyone else who does the same job). Ross was once the principal of the arts magnet high school in Montgomery and is a highly respected state legislator.

Once again, I don’t think (as some of my liberal colleagues have asserted) this about bringing down Democrats. This is about exposing the shady things that have been going on for years, and in some cases decades, in the two year college system. IT IS improper for legislators to receive special preferences and dispensations because of their positions, and IT HAS HAPPENED. Whether or not this is one of those instances, it needs to be brought into the light of day. And there are other situations that also need to be revealed, and no doubt will be.

Ross’ rise in the two-year college system has been criticized by others at Trenholm, who filed discrimination claims after he received the director’s job and argued publicly his appointment was political.

“I don’t have anything against him personally,” said Robert Walker, who won a $25,000 settlement after losing his job at Trenholm and challenging Ross’ appointment. “But I really don’t think he would have gotten that position if he wasn’t a senator.”

Ross is the latest Alabama lawmaker working in the two-year college system whose hiring and work have been reviewed by The Birmingham News. State school board members last month approved new policies limiting the hiring of legislators following reports that 43 legislators, their close relatives and businesses received payments from colleges between 2002 and 2006.

Lawmaker cited in low program enrollment- al.com