LOUISVILLE, KY - Questions are being posed about the University of Louisville's decision to hire a former state Democratic Party chairman into a newly created position where he makes $220,000.

The Courier-Journal reports Jerry Johnson, who doesn't hold a college degree, was hired May 1 as chief of staff to David Dunn, the executive vice president for health affairs.

Former U of L trustee Bill Stone said the hire doesn't look good. State Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, who is chairman of the state House Health and & Welfare Committee, suggested the hiring was "political."

Dunn and Johnson declined to be interviewed, but Dunn spokesman Gary Mans said in a statement that Johnson was the most qualified candidate for the job. He noted among other things that Johnson spent several years as chief operating officer at Pikeville Medical Center.