By Sergio Arellano-Oros
The director of Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, Joey Strickland was forced to resign as a result of a cub reporter’s news story and Governor Jan Brewer’s alleged dislike of former state representative, Terri Proud. Veterans are expressing concern for the removal of the widely-respected Strickland.
According to sources inside the Governor’s office, when she received word about an article appearing in the Arizona Daily Star, in which Proud reportedly said that “menstrual cycles might be too problematic for women to be in combat,” the Governor had Chief of Staff Scott Smith and Deputy Chief of Staff Kathy Peckardt “explain their concerns with Strickland in a phone call.”
The Governor accepted his resignation later in the day. When contacted by the Arizona Daily Independent, Strickland was obviously upset and said, “I am distraught.” Later, Strickland said that he understood and followed the Governor’s order to not hire Proud last year, but did not understand that the order was “forever.”
The story, which raised the Governor’s awareness was written by a University of Arizona journalism student, Bethany Barnes, who identified herself as a reporter from the Arizona Daily Star, according to Proud. Barnes caught the former state legislator and single mom while she was out with her terminally ill teenage daughter.
Proud claims that Barnes misquoted her and took her statements out of context. Proud says that it was Barnes who raised the issue of menstruation to Proud. Proud insisted that she did not want to discuss the matter.
Within hours of receiving the letter rescinding her job offer from Veteran’s Services interim director, Robert Barnes, Proud appeared on the James T. Harris show. Proud told Harris that “none of those words came from my mouth,” referring to the Star article. She told Harris’s audience that she discussed with the reporter the lack of care for women and questioned how the military would accommodate women in combat when the VA was not accommodating them now.
The Governor has issued an order prohibiting the hiring of any former legislators by any department under her control. Despite the fact that the Governor has raised the ire of her base for her position on Medicaid expansion to the benefit of a few of her closest advisers, she placed the hiring restriction to avoid the appearance of patronage.
“If the Governor has it out for me, or has something against former legislators finding jobs, then I was not aware of it until now,” said Proud. “As a legislator, I met the Governor only once.”
The Governor’s office did not contact Proud for comment on the April 2 article prior to requesting Strickland’s resignation only a day after it was published.
Proud is asking the public to “support Strickland who was appointed to the post by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano and who helped establish Arizona as the most veteran supportive state in the union for education, jobs and wellness.” Proud noted that Strickland is “highly respected for his 29 years of service in the United States Army and for his service as director of the Arizona Department of Veteran’s Services.”
Proud released a statement asking for action, “Strickland should not have been removed, Brewer overreacted. Contact the Governor’s office at (602) 542-4331 to let them know Strickland should be brought back.”
To letter rescinding job, click here.