||| FROM KARI MCVEIGH |||
Kari McVeigh
Yesterday, Jack Cory released news through Facebook and today through an email from the San Juan County Republicans of a situation I was embroiled in over 11 years ago in an attempt to damage my campaign. They released a news article stating that I had been fired from New Haven Unified School District and received a large financial buyout as a result.
That is false. Here are the facts: First and foremost, I was not fired, I officially retired and resigned in the morning. That afternoon the School Board called an emergency meeting, where they essentially said, “you can’t retire, we’re firing you.” My attorney reminded them you can’t fire someone who has already quit.
I resigned because the Board challenged my hiring of well vetted, highly qualified Principal candidates. They wanted to advance race-based hiring. That was completely unacceptable to me. I was dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race.
I announced my retirement publicly in a press release, noting that the cause was “irreconcilable
differences” with the Board. My honesty infuriated the Board and they became determined to exact retribution by attempting to terminate me, in order to deny me my contractual retirement benefits. The key retirement benefit they sought to deprive me of was one that had been standard in their superintendent contracts for decades – lifetime health care insurance. Other benefits included severance pay in an amount significantly less than the press reported.
Their actions left me no choice but to file a legal challenge. After more than a year, we reached a settlement agreement. This was one of the most painful professional experiences of my career but it certainly does not negate all the amazing work we did in that district by collaboratively balancing a budget during the Great Recession or the creation of award-winning programs that led us to receiving the $29 million Race to the Top Grant. I stand today fully proud of all my accomplishments as their Superintendent.
When I became Superintendent of San Juan Island School District Jack Cory brought the issue up during a Rotary meeting. Like now, I explained it to Rotary and the issue seemingly was put to rest with no further questions. Until now….
I was fully transparent with my campaign manager about it when we first discussed the possibility of my run for county council. Jack Cory and his allies see my strength as a candidate and, like so many in politics these days, have evidently chosen the low road in this contest. I will not go there.
Thank you for the clear explanation. I appreciate knowing that you have faced challenges in the past and handled them with dignity. The County Council will certainly experience challenges in the coming years and I feel confident that you have the skills and grace to manage it all well. You have my vote, Ms. McVeigh.
I second what Hilary said so eloquently. I feel this is the same kind of underhanded, behind the curtain, campaigning that so hurt Lisa Byers when she ran years ago. It stinks. Thank you for the explanation Kari.
It is perplexing to me how anyone declaring herself as unwilling to take the “low road” would believe that a low road accusation would be the price of admission to a more honorable status. While it appears that Mr. Cory is in fact the overt source of the story Ms. McVeigh is distressed to have repeated or examined in public, the thinly veiled retort – the accusation that Mr. Cory was acting as an advocate for, or accessory to, either of Ms. McVeigh’s opponents – is accompanied by a complete lack of proof. In fact, Ms. McVeigh even states in her letter that Mr. Cory was the source of exposing this information previously when she was a San Juan superintendent candidate, years prior to this election. Furthermore, there has been no proof offered that Stephanie O’Day or Adrian Kilpatrick are “allies” of Mr. Cory.
The best way to counter Jack Cory is to inform the voters of San Juan County that you’ve been endorsed by the San Juan County Democrats. Ours is one of the most reliably Democratic counties in Washington State. In a nonpartisan race such as this voters who do not tune in until late in the campaign will be grateful to know that you share their progressive values. If this is all they know you will likely still win. Probably by a landslide.
As far as I am concerned the best endorsement of a candidate is to be attacked by Jack Corey. He is one of the most reliably conservative voices in San Juan County.
Along with Hilary you have my vote, Ms. McVeigh.
As far as I am concerned the best endorsement of a candidate is to be attacked by Jack Corey. He is one of the most reliably conservative voices in San Juan County.
Along with You have my vote, Ms. McVeigh.
As far as I am concerned the best endorsement of a candidate is to be attacked by Jack Corey. He is one of the most reliably conservative voices in San Juan County.
You have my vote, Ms. McVeigh.
Ok, Bob, ok. I get it!