Lt. Gov. Mike Stack now knows what it feels like to be sent to the woodshed by his boss. Stack and his wife, Tonya, had what the lieutenant governor calls "Stack moments" in berating household help, even members of their state police detail.

Well, he won't have to worry about the state police, because Gov. Tom Wolf has canceled Stack's protective detail and ordered the Department of General Services to provide only limited cleaning, groundskeeping and maintenance at the lieutenant governor's home in Indiantown Gap.Wolf paid a visit to Stack last month to hand-deliver a letter of reprimand, essentially telling his underling to "knock it off."Stack apologized to his state police security detail and other staff members for how he and his wife treated them.According to Harrisburg insiders, Wolf was seething and is intent in pursuing the matter.He asked the state inspector general, Bruce Beemer, to look into the allegations that the Stacks' security detail was ordered to use sirens in nonemergency situations. This allegedly occurred after a sporting event in Philadelphia.The Inspector General's office investigates a number of complaints, including misconduct in state agencies.We agree with Wolf's decision to ask for an investigation. The results would be released at the discretion of the governor.The state police usually provide security for the governor and lieutenant governor. Until Wolf's action, Stack's residence was managed by a full detail of employees from the state Department of General Services.Stack stupidly tried to downplay his so-called "Stack moments.""These folks are like your family, and you say things around your family that you wouldn't to anyone else in the world," Stack said.Well, guess what, Mr. lieutenant governor? These are employees, not family members, so your rationale is bogus.Wolf and Stack were running mates in the 2014 general election, but the governor and lieutenant governor run separately in the primary election, not as a team as many presume.Wolf and Stack seldom appear in public together. In fact, since the gubernatorial election and inauguration in January 2015, you can count on one hand the number of times the two have been at the same official event. They speak to each other but not often.Usually, the lieutenant governor's office is a quiet one. Aside from serving as president of the state Senate, Stack has a few other official requirements to perform and many ceremonial duties.This rift raises some thorny issues for Democrats when Wolf runs for re-election next year. Will Stack also run? If so, will Wolf support him, seek a more compatible running mate for the fall or remain neutral?Stack said he and his wife are "deeply sorry for offending anybody." He said they are going to make it up because "we feel we can make it better. People in public life have a higher standard."Stack went on to say that he has said things in anger, stress and frustration that he wish he hadn't said. "Any person who goes through life and gets stressed will say things that they don't mean, and they say things out of anger, and I am no exception," he said.Sure, we all lose our temper on occasion, but Stack seems to make a habit of it, and he is slow to apologize, if at all, according to employees.We believe people in the public eye should be held to a higher standard. Leadership means leading by example. Respect for those who work for us will lead to respect in return.Public officials shouldn't have to be told something as basic as this.By Bruce Frassinelli |

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