For Immediate Release: September 29, 2011
Contact: Jed Green (405) 427-3366
Barresi's Chief of Staff Scores Major Points
Oklahoma City - Superintendent of Education Barresi's illegally hired Chief of Staff, Jennifer Carter, recently scored major points in the assault on public education when she recently called educators "dirtbags" on Twitter. Carter's tweet attacked educational administrators who have voiced concerns of her enforcement of Barresi's policies. Interestingly, these comments came before remarks by Labor Commissioner Mark Costello referring to state employees as "feral hogs".
"This is a continuing pattern of bullying and illegal activity by statewide elected officials," Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Wallace Collins said, referring to the illegal hiring of Carter by Barresi, " it's appalling that both Costello and Barresi continue to defend not just juvenile nebehavior, but the illegal abuse of non-profit entities to advance their agendas. It's one thing to openly debate policy differences. It's another to engage in name calling and illegal practice to advance your position."
In May, Attorney General Scott Pruitt issued an opinion citing Barresi's use of a non-profit entity to hire three employs including Carter as improper. Last week the Oklahoma Democratic Party submitted a complaint to the Internal Revenue Service regarding Mark Costello's misuse of a non-profit entity to promote his candidacy for public office.
Superintendent Barresi was quoted in a Tulsa World article as saying "While Jennifer's tweet was a poor choice of words, it is morally wrong for superintendents of school districts to sue parents who want nothing more than what's best for their children." In response to Barresi's spin, Chairman Collins had this to say, " It's morally wrong for those elected to be role models for our children to demean fellow members of their department. There is currently a legislative interim study on bullying. Perhaps there should be a study of state elected officials bullying those who don't agree with their policies."
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Posted on
Thu, September 29, 2011
by ODP Communications
filed under