State agency to learn whether ‘Preselection’ is discrimination

An energy specialist with the Ohio Department of Development filed a race-discrimination complaint with
the Civil Rights Division, arguing the department passed him over for promotions to two positions because he is black.

The department acknowledged it had created the positions specifically with two other men in mind to keep them from leaving. The specialist’s attorney argued that the practice violates the notion of equal employment opportunity.

The Civil Rights Division agreed and scheduled the case for full review. The division also launched an investigation along with the attorney general’s office to see if “preselection,” or creating positions with specific people in mind, is common in other state agencies.