Tonight the Kentucky League of Cities will hold its Christmas Party/Sylvia Is Leaving Party at the Marriott Griffin Gate in Lexington. Complete with dancing and karaoke. At a cost of $10,000.

But how did KLC justify it? By saying vendors paid for it all.

WHAT THE LIVING HELL! What is it about appearance of impropriety and corruption that these people don’t get?

Some of the KLC board members want Neil Hackworth, the current Deputy Executive Director, to replace Sylvia Lovely. But just who is Hackworth? Let’s take a trip down memory lane to, oh, yesterday:

Hackworth bought a BMW from the KLC vehicle pool for $9,000 when the actual value was $15,623 (hello, Martha Stewart-esque!)

If this were Wall Street, I’m pretty sure the guy would be brought up on insider trading charges.

And let’s not forget the highlights of his lavish spending habits:

• Dozens upon dozens of meals at Durango’s, Bellini’s and other restaurants
• $182.16 for a meal at The Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas
• $839.21 at Bally’s Paris Las Vegas, $401.03 of which was a Les Artise Steakhouse charge
• $1,240.10 at Charleston Place in Charlestown, SC which included a spa charge
• $948.82 for a meal at Beaujolais Bistro in Reno
• $730.88 at the Marriott in New Orleans which included lobby bar charges
• $727.18 on two meals in Puerto Rico
• $2,004.96 for four nights in Mackinac Island, MI – $517.18 per night
• $755.30 at Macaroni Grill (!!!)
• $1,157.32 for a meal at Galatoire’s in New Orleans
• $1,201.65 for five nights & bar charges at San Antonio’s Hotel Contessa
• $995.64 for a meal at Vivace in Tucson
• $585.05 for a meal at the Sardine Factory in Monterey, CA
• $3,710.91 for seven nights at Portola Hotel in Monterey
• $1,161.72 for four nights at Lodge at Vail in Vail, CO
• $1,409.41 at the Marriott in New Orleans
• $1,161.55 for a meal at Vincenzo’s in Louisville
• $32.58 for internet access at BWI
• $85.12 at Rumors II in Lexington
• His monthly Bellsouth internet access charge for DSL
• $1,297.73 for a car rental in Anchorage, AK
• $324 for Kentucky Oaks tickets
• $1,404 for UK Season Tickets
• $912.50 for UK Season Tickets for KCL’s use
• $4,000 in cash allegedly used to purchase UK tickets

The fact that the League is considering this guy for a promotion to the top spot instead of firing him? ABSURD!

They’ll never learn.