The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - One of Gov. Paul Patton's political appointees at the Transportation Cabinet is also getting a paycheck from the federal government.

Guy M. Jones, a frequent contributor to Democratic political campaigns, has a $67,026 salary as a principal assistant at the cabinet's District 8 office in Somerset, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Friday.

Jones' co-workers said he is rarely seen at the district office.

"I don't see him even weekly. I can't remember the last time he was here," said Daniel Jewell, chief engineer in that office.

Jones is paid $39,000 a year as a U.S. Postal Service contract carrier in Waynesburg, supervising two other people.

Jones listed his multiple sources of employment in an April 15 application for a state merit position, the newspaper reported. According to the documents, he accepted both jobs in 1996.

Transportation Cabinet spokesman Mark Pfeiffer said the cabinet did not know about Jones' postal job until a reporter with the newspaper asked about it Thursday.

Jones violated state rules by not requesting permission for outside employment, Pfeiffer said. The state government requires employees to request permission before they take additional jobs, so the state can decide whether a conflict exists, Pfeiffer said.

Jones could not be reached for comment.

Jones will not be punished, but he immediately will be required to submit an application for outside employment, Pfeiffer said.

The governor's principal assistants are a recurring target of criticism in Frankfort. Last winter, the General Assembly ordered Patton to reduce his 800 appointees by 250 as part of the state's budget cuts.