Employment for Mason Not on Paper

New records show that when the University of Iowa decided to hire Sally Mason to fill in the position of president of the institution, they never made any agreement to also provide employment to her husband, to be paid as a presidential fundraiser or instructor. In recent weeks, Mason claimed that when first negotiating back in 2007 with the Board of Regent, she also managed to receive promise that employment for her husband would also be made available. However, while Mason believed this to be true, the former regents president, Michael Gartner, is saying otherwise, as he is the one who negotiated with her when it came down to her employment and the terms that had to do with her employment as well.

Responding to a request for open records, the university handed over a copy of a latter that basically showed all of the detail that went along with Mason’s employment and compensation. In the letter, there is very specific information providing details about the benefits and salary that Mason receives, along with the duties and tasks that she is responsible for. While the letter is quite specific when it comes to detailing just about every aspect of Mason’s employment, there is absolutely no mention of Ken Mason, Sally Mason’s husband, at all. There is no written statement that shows Ken Mason was promised employment as an instructor or as a fundraiser.

The role that Ken Mason was filling as a presidential fundraiser recently came into the light when Register wanted to know why the University of Iowa Foundation was paying the University of Iowa over $70,000 for Ken Mason’s salary, along with the benefits he received as a fundraiser. The Register wanted to interview Sally Mason and likely further question this but she is refusing to respond to an interview. Sally Mason currently receives $483,600 each year but has not been available to discuss the situation any further, and has not responded to any calls that have been made to her or her residence since the 3^rd of May.

Prior to her silence, Sally Mason did tell a reporter who works for the Daily Iowa that the reason her husband had the job is because it was negotiated within her contract, something she claims she actually negotiated with the Board of Regents. She says that the negotiation was accepted rather quickly but that was perfect for her because in her eyes, that is what mattered the most. However, Gartner says there was never any mention about her husband, Ken Mason, being the presidential fundraiser and taking on a position that would have him earning an approximate $72,000 each year. For the states database of its employees, the job title that shows up for Ken Mason is not fundraiser or instructor, it is actually a lecturer.