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[Monday, September 25, 2000
STATE
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THE BATTALION
State employees leave system
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I'S^XS-jexas turnover rate above national average
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EL PASO (AP) — Weldon Jarratt
has road building in his blood, and he
is warning Texas drivers to expect a
bumpy ride ahead.
I Jarratt, a former Texas Depart-
|ment of Transportation employee, is
one of a growing number of people
,who have left state employment for
higher wages and the promise of up
ward mobility in the private sector.
“To be promoted any further,
somebody had to die or retire,” Jar-
Raises were not a sure thing, either.
“It was strictly up to whether the
Legislature gave us any raises,” he
said, “and the Legislature has not
â– been too favorable to the state in the
past 15 years.”
State employees repair roads,
guard prison inmates, administer
e world invest ^welfare and maintain computer sys
tems. They oversee agricultural pro
grams, fight wildfires and patrol the
state’s highways.
And in 1999,17.6 percent of them
25,421 people — left the system.
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That is slightly higher than the 1998
rate of 17.4 percent and above the na
tional average of 14.9 percent.
“Gov. Bush values
the work of state
* employees, and
his staff is con
cerned about our
turnover rate”
— Mike Jones
spokesman for George W. Bush
The result is that lost productivi
ty and constant training are costing
the state between $127 million and
$254 million each year, according to
a March report from the state audi
tor's office.
Advocates for state employees at
tribute the accelerating turnover
mainly to a gap in pay between state
and private sector employees who do
similar jobs and a lack of upward
mobility.
In 1998, the average Texas work
er in the private sector earned
$32,090 a year, compared with
$28,653 for the average state gov
ernment worker, according to a May
study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Nationwide, government
workers made $32,931, according to
the study.
Mike Jones, a spokesman for Gov.
George W. Bush, said state employ
ees received $100-a-month raises in
both 1998 and 2000. Additional pay
raises were given to child welfare
workers, key computer staff and
prison guards, he said.
“Gov. Bush values the work of
state employees, and his staff is con
cerned about our turnover rate,” Jones
said. “If the governor is in office next
year, he will look forward to working
with legislative leaders on ideas to re
tain our best public servants.”
News in Brief
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Two burned
bodies identified
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Two of
the bodies found burning last
weekend in South Texas have
been identified.
The bodies of Sean Michael
Cain, 32, and Nelley Esmerelda
Bravo, 23, were found wrapped in
carpet and burning along a re
mote stretch of road in Frio Coun
ty. The third victim has not yet
been identified.
Police arrested and charged
three men in the slayings. Miguel
Paredes, 18, John Anthony Saenz,
with other state cfj 28, and Greg Alvarado, 21, were
arrested this week. All three were
ty breakdown \sit charged with capital murder.
;j All three men were being held
Saturday in the Bexar County Jail,
according to the San Antonio Ex
press News.
The bodies were found late
Sunday by a farmer investigating
a grass fire near his home. Au
thorities still have not identified
one of the bodies or the manner
in which the men died.
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Cool-acting bird helps
launch youth message
AUSTIN (AP) — Hip-hop music plays and a smooth-talking animated
duck disses a stressed out smoker.
“Tobacco is foul,” says the rebellious duck, definitely a bird with an
attitude.
It’s the centerpiece of the state’s new youth anti-smoking ad campaign —
the first to be paid for with some of Texas’ $17.3 billion tobacco settlement
money — that gets going Monday.
Teen-agers from across the state who were recruited to help create the $2
million anti-smoking ad campaign selected the duck mascot.
The advertising and public relations effort is part of a pilot project tar
geting parts of East Texas and overseen by the Texas Department of Health.
The initiative is aimed mostly at young people between ages 11 and 18, with
a particular emphasis on sixth- through eighth-graders.
Hence, the hip-talking duck.
“It will be hard-hitting, realistic, timely and speak to kids in a language
they can relate to,” said Dr. Phil Huang, chief of the health department’s bu
reau of disease, injury and tobacco prevention.
Statewide research has shown that sixth-graders are at the highest risk of
starting to use tobacco, Huang said.
The anti-tobacco campaign is intended to have a special focus on Hispanic,
African-American and Asian-American youths.
Speaking in English and Spanish, the duck will be featured in television,
radio and billboard ads in four media markets: Houston-Galveston, Beau-
mont-Port Arthur, Tyler-Longview and Bryan-College Station.
TAMU Career Center
Applying to
Grad School
Get input from university representatives about how to tackle
the job of applying to a graduate program.
Tuesday, Oct. 10
5:15 p.m. Rudder 308
For more information contact the Career Center at
845-5139, come by 209 Koldus, or check us out on-line at
http://careercenter.tamu.edu
Some Of The High Tech
Tools You'll Work With
At Smith & Associates.
At Smith & Associates while we take our business seriously
we also work hard at having fun. It's this great environment
where people can wear shorts, play Ping-Pong and
Basketball that we believe enables ideas to run freely. This
kind of thinking has enabled Smith & Associates to become
one of the world's leading independent distributors of semi
conductors, electonic components and peripherals, and we're
growing every day.
COMPONENT
SALES/PURCHASING
We currently have exceptional opportunities for Sales and
purchasing professionals who are aggressive, interested in
making money and love the challenge of the "deal".
Candidates must be self motivated go-getters with excellent
relationship building and negotiating skills, as well as pos
sess a true, natural sales ability which is what it takes to be
successful in this competitive industry. Proficiency in a sec
ond language is a plus.
We invite you to attend our Career Info Session on Wed., Sept. 27 ,h
5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Room 707 Rudder
On campus interviews will be held Thurs., Sept. 28 ,h & Fri., Sept. 29' h
We offer great benefits including:
• Paid time off • Matching 401 (k) Program
• Free health club membership • Full medical, dental and
• Casual dress code everyday vision benefits
• Competitive salary and bonuses • And more!
www.smithmart.com
An equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V
ition â–  Wr &
closing
registration
\
1-Entry Fee $40 Per Team
i: -Division is completely CoRec
I-Highly and Moderately
Skilled, and Novice
Classes Available
-Teams will consist
5 men, 5 women
-Captain's Meeting
at 6 p.m. in