Nighbert leaves job as Republican aide

By Beth Musgrave and Ryan Alessi

bmusgrave@herald-leader.com com

CHARLES BERTRAM

Bill Nighbert decided to take a private-sector job as a consultant. 2006 file photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

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Former Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert has left his position as an aide to state Senate Republican leadership for a private-sector job, Senate leaders confirmed Monday.

Senate President David Williams said Nighbert left 10 days ago to take a consulting position.

Nighbert was transportation secretary from 2005 to December 2007. Williams hired him in January to help the Burkesville Republican with transportation-related issues. Nighbert's attorney, Howard Mann, said Monday that his client had said the position with Williams was temporary.

Mann confirmed last month that Nighbert had been asked to appear before a federal grand jury investigating improprieties in the Transportation Cabinet. Nighbert declined to testify, Mann said in June.

Williams said Monday that Nighbert had intended to work through the legislative session but stayed until after the special session this summer.

“He was taking about a $40,000-a-year pay cut,” Williams said.

Nighbert's annual wage would have been about $70,000 if he had stayed until December, Williams said.

Nighbert could not be reached for comment.

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