Weeks ago we were informed of a Workforce employee who used the resources of the Employment Security Department by contacting Veterans whose email she had to enlist their support of incumbent Senate Democrat, Patty Murray.
The employee, later identified as the Local Veteran Employment Representative for Worksource was to be disciplined in some manner for this breech of not only ethics, but violating state and federal law and the policies of the Employment Security Department.
By policy, what measures are to be taken are not made public.
This misconduct was first revealed on the blog site RedCounty.com by Bryan Myrick. Bryan, much to his credit, did not just let this matter drop and looking through several pages of emails received from the Washington Employment Security Department sees evidence that a campaign staffer from Murray’s campaign just might have coordinated with the Workforce employee to improperly use state resources in reaching out and convincing Veterans to support Murray.
Bryan’s work is well written and I have no intention of trying to “improve” upon what he has written. I can only suggest you go read his article and decide for yourself at Did Patty Murray’s Campaign Ask a State Worker to Use Gov’t Resources for Political Organizing?
What I do intend to do in this post is to express my outrage and utter dismay that a person employed in our state as the Local Veteran Employment Representative for the Washington Employment Security Department, after being exposed for her misuse of government resources to benefit one candidate over another would take a cheap shot at, of all people, VETERANS!
Yes, she is being paid to represent and assist those of us who have served in the Military and especially those serving today who are returning from battle in gaining meaningful employment once again as they reenter civilian life.
Myrick includes a copy of one email sent out by the employee sent to higher ups that begins apologetic to them and ends asking just “how high up the chain” did complaints from Veterans outraged over her email went. As you can see in the copy below from Myrick’s blog, in the middle of the email she says,
“I should have known that the Veteran Community would blow it way out of proportion.”
Excuse me?? She “should have known” that we Veterans, by “blowing it way out proportion” would end up misrepresenting her intent? That is how I take this email. She doesn’t actually take responsibility for her violation of law and instead, ends up blaming any of us who received the email and were offended by it for “blowing it way out of proportion.”
The original email sent out by the employee, Sally Garcia said,
“First I would like to say this is not an endorsement, just a call out to Veterans who may be interested in assisting with a “walk and knock” to remind people to vote. Specifically for Patty Murray. Whether you have voted for her in the past or are thinking of or planning to vote for her, the bottom line is she has done a lot for the Veterans of our community. Take a look at the attachments I have included and if you want to get involved contact Kerala Hise at 360-828-7898 or kerala@pattymurray.com.”(emphasis added)
Ms. Garcia signs the email as “Sally Garcia, Local Veteran Employment Representative, WorkSource Vancouver”
If her original email isn’t an endorsement, it’s a very strong supportive letter specifically sending Veterans she contacted to one candidate only and she not only uses a state compiled email list, but state owned computers.
Personally, other than throwing money and pandering for votes, this is one Veteran who doesn’t believe Murray is as strong of a Veterans advocate as she wishes us to think.
Regardless, how utterly distasteful for Ms. Garcia to take a cheap shot at Veterans, the very Veterans she says she works to represent, because we do not appreciate pandering or being used for political gain.
It is unknown if any disciplinary measures will rise to the level of termination in this matter. But if it doesn’t, may I suggest that Ms. Garcia be reassigned to another area.
The last thing Veterans need any more of is someone who is supposed to be advocating for us expressing such low regard for us.
Sally Garcia, with her slap at us, expresses eloquently what I see in Patty Murray towards Veterans. She may make a show of throwing a little money our way, but what high regard does either of them show to those who place their very lives on the line to keep both Patty Murray and Sally Garcia safe in their well paying taxpayer funded jobs?
Veterans deserve better!
“The Republican War on Women is real, and it’s extremely dangerous. House Republicans are pursuing the most comprehensive and radical assault on women’s health and reproductive freedom in our lifetime,” said DCCC Political Director, Kelly Ward in an April 13, 2012 email.
