Jan. 3, 2013: Board of Education; 2012 election; gun control
Investigate BOE, Wade Linger
Investigate BOE, Wade Linger
Editor:
Wade Linger and four other members of the West Virginia Board of Education chose on Nov. 15 to fire State Superintendent Dr. Jorea Marple. According to reports in the Gazette, Mr. Linger went forward with the vote despite the advice of counsel that to do so would be a violation of the Open Governmental Proceedings Act because the firing of Dr. Marple was not listed as an agenda item.
The act requires that agenda items be publicized in advance so that interested people can appear and give input. To not do so is tantamount to closing the doors in the face of the public. A knowing violation of the Act constitutes a criminal misdemeanor. It would seem that going forward despite advice of counsel not to do so would constitute a violation.
Now we learn of allegations that Dr. Marple was fired, at least in part, because of her refusal to agree to certain no-bid contracts, and a refusal to enter into contracts with companies in which certain board members have financial interests. Because of these allegations, and the apparent violation of the Open Governmental Proceedings Act, it is time to investigate Wade Linger and the rest of the Gang of Five.
The investigation should be undertaken by the Kanawha County prosecuting attorney or a special prosecutor appointed for just this case. If there is a possibility of a conspiracy to violate the act or to secure financial benefits, that too should be investigated.
It appears that the children of West Virginia may have been sold out for 30 pieces of silver.
Robert S. Baker
Beckley
Many thanks owed in 2012 election Editor:
The Nov. 6 General Election is over and the results have now been certified. I thank all those who made the election process flow smoothly for the voters of Kanawha County. To the 800 plus poll workers who worked from 5:30 a.m. until after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m., to the poll workers that made it possible for us to "early vote" at the Voter Registration office, to the 41 truck drivers and escorts that used 19 trucks to deliver and return the election equipment, to Sheriff Mike Rutherford and his deputies for never failing to provide the security we request, to Mayor Danny Jones and his police department for providing assistance with traffic control, to County Commissioners and Mayor of Charleston for allowing voters to park on Quarrier Street during early voting, to Assessor Phyllis Gaston and her staff for providing vehicles for our employees to drive on election day and employees to assist with the Canvass, to Circuit Clerk Cathy Gaston for her encouragement and support, to the Parks Authority for letting us park the delivery trucks on their lot overnight, to Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants for providing observers on election night, to our County Commissioners Kent Carper, David Hardy and Henry "Hoppy" Shores for all their assistance and a smooth canvass, to County Attorney Marc Slotnick who works closely with our office regarding all matters of election law, to Mike, Greg and Larry the IT staff that made it possible for election results to be received by email, to Custodians of Kanawha County Schools who also had a long day, to Ryder Transportation for always providing the trucks for equipment delivery, to all county employees who assisted in whatever capacity with the election process, to my Chief Deputy David Dodd and Registrar Pat Fisher and all employees of the County Clerk's office for their dedication to the election process, including many, many 12-15 hour days, to the media which kept the public informed regarding registration deadlines, early voting times and regular hours on election ay and, of course, election results. Most of all, thanks to the 76,000 plus voters of Kanawha County who exercised their right to vote in this, another historical General Election.
Vera J. McCormick
Kanawha County Clerk
Charleston
The stalled gun control debate
Editor:
Congress and other politicians will not do anything about gun control until and if one of their own family members is wounded or killed by one of these crazies.
Curtis F. Lanham
Charleston
Investigate BOE, Wade Linger
Editor:
Wade Linger and four other members of the West Virginia Board of Education chose on Nov. 15 to fire State Superintendent Dr. Jorea Marple. According to reports in the Gazette, Mr. Linger went forward with the vote despite the advice of counsel that to do so would be a violation of the Open Governmental Proceedings Act because the firing of Dr. Marple was not listed as an agenda item.
The act requires that agenda items be publicized in advance so that interested people can appear and give input. To not do so is tantamount to closing the doors in the face of the public. A knowing violation of the Act constitutes a criminal misdemeanor. It would seem that going forward despite advice of counsel not to do so would constitute a violation.
Now we learn of allegations that Dr. Marple was fired, at least in part, because of her refusal to agree to certain no-bid contracts, and a refusal to enter into contracts with companies in which certain board members have financial interests. Because of these allegations, and the apparent violation of the Open Governmental Proceedings Act, it is time to investigate Wade Linger and the rest of the Gang of Five.
The investigation should be undertaken by the Kanawha County prosecuting attorney or a special prosecutor appointed for just this case. If there is a possibility of a conspiracy to violate the act or to secure financial benefits, that too should be investigated.
It appears that the children of West Virginia may have been sold out for 30 pieces of silver.
Robert S. Baker
Beckley
Many thanks owed in 2012 election Editor:
The Nov. 6 General Election is over and the results have now been certified. I thank all those who made the election process flow smoothly for the voters of Kanawha County. To the 800 plus poll workers who worked from 5:30 a.m. until after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m., to the poll workers that made it possible for us to "early vote" at the Voter Registration office, to the 41 truck drivers and escorts that used 19 trucks to deliver and return the election equipment, to Sheriff Mike Rutherford and his deputies for never failing to provide the security we request, to Mayor Danny Jones and his police department for providing assistance with traffic control, to County Commissioners and Mayor of Charleston for allowing voters to park on Quarrier Street during early voting, to Assessor Phyllis Gaston and her staff for providing vehicles for our employees to drive on election day and employees to assist with the Canvass, to Circuit Clerk Cathy Gaston for her encouragement and support, to the Parks Authority for letting us park the delivery trucks on their lot overnight, to Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants for providing observers on election night, to our County Commissioners Kent Carper, David Hardy and Henry "Hoppy" Shores for all their assistance and a smooth canvass, to County Attorney Marc Slotnick who works closely with our office regarding all matters of election law, to Mike, Greg and Larry the IT staff that made it possible for election results to be received by email, to Custodians of Kanawha County Schools who also had a long day, to Ryder Transportation for always providing the trucks for equipment delivery, to all county employees who assisted in whatever capacity with the election process, to my Chief Deputy David Dodd and Registrar Pat Fisher and all employees of the County Clerk's office for their dedication to the election process, including many, many 12-15 hour days, to the media which kept the public informed regarding registration deadlines, early voting times and regular hours on election ay and, of course, election results. Most of all, thanks to the 76,000 plus voters of Kanawha County who exercised their right to vote in this, another historical General Election.
Vera J. McCormick
Kanawha County Clerk
Charleston
The stalled gun control debate
Editor:
Congress and other politicians will not do anything about gun control until and if one of their own family members is wounded or killed by one of these crazies.
Curtis F. Lanham
Charleston
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