Despite gaffes, Corbett defends his health secretary

Gov. Tom Corbett says he supports his top health official, despite the fact that some people apparently don’t like his personality.

Corbett was asked yesterday about Health Secretary Eli Avila in the wake of reports about Avila’s dispute with a Harrisburg restaurant owner over the freshness of his eggs and his decision to have a badge made for himself.

Corbett says he thinks Avila’s doing a great job, and that he’s looking at work product, not personalities.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday that Avila had a badge made for himself with the state seal and his job title before Corbett’s office asked him to get rid of it.

Well, it would make Avila more identifiable in public. And less likely to have to say things like, “Do you know who I am? I am the secretary of health!”