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Massachusetts Releases New Info on Former Director of Highway Safety

State officials are releasing new information about the 2007 hiring of Sheila Burgess, the former director of highway safety whose personal driving record included multiple accidents and traffic violations.

Secretary of Public Safety Mary Beth Heffernan said Friday that Burgess' driving record had been collected as part the screening process during the hiring process, but that information was never turned over to the hiring manager.

In a statement, Heffernan said if the hiring manager had been aware of the driving record, Burgess would not have gotten the job.

The state also released a copy of Burgess' job application, which listed Heffernan and U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, as references. Burgess said she had worked as a fundraising consultant to McGovern.

Burgess was removed last month from the highway safety post and later resigned from state government.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Lucas Willard is a news reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011. He produces and hosts The Best of Our Knowledge and WAMC Listening Party.