At almost the same time Terrie Gent, the Secretary of the Cochise County Democrat Party, was telling Joey Strickland, the head of Arizona’s Veteran Services Department , that she was “flying top cover” for him, and warning him that she could begin efforts which would “frag” Governor Jan Brewer, Gent was writing to others that Strickland must be suffering from PTSD because he would not rescind a job offer to former state representative, republican Terri Proud.
On April 3, a Tucson tabloid posted another story from Bethany Barnes entitled, “Terri Proud Fired for Comments About Women’s Menstrual Cycles in Combat, at 1:03 p.m.
At 2:36 p.m., a reporter from the Associated Press contacted the Governor’s spokesperson Matt Benson, in an email, in which she wrote:
“Hi I just left you a voice mail. We need to match this story.” She then included a link to the tabloid’s article by Barnes.
On April 3, the Associated Press reported that Strickland had lost his job, in an article entitled “Arizona Veterans services director forced out.
The article read:
The director of Arizona’s veteran services department was forced out of his job this week after he hired a former state representative and she had been slammed by female troops serving in combat.
Joey Strickland submitted his resignation effective immediately on Tuesday after he was reprimanded for hiring former state Rep. Terri Proud after Gov. Jan Brewer explicitly told him not to.
Proud lost your job this week after she said menstrual cycles might be too problematic for women to be in combat. She made the remarks in an interview with University of Arizona’s Arizona-Sonora New Service about her plans for the department’s women services.
Brewer’s spokesman Matt Benson said Proud comments are indicative of why Brewer told Strickland not to hire her.
“He acted in disregarded those instructions,” Benson said. “Of all people, Col. Strickland knows the ramifications of disregarding a direct order.”
Veterans services deputy director Robert Barnes was named interim director until a permanent replacement is found, Benson said.
Also on April 3, Arizona Republic reporter, Lindsey Collum forwarded a letter from Strickland to the Governor. She advised Benson that she was preparing an article about the letter for online publication. She wrote:
Hi again. Has the Gov. Brewer seen this letter? What was her response? Also wondering if Scott Smith wants to talk or has a statement to make. Why didn’t he (and/or the gov) want veteran services to hire Terri Proud? Couldn’t the office have quietly rescinded the offer without Strickland’s resignation?
The enclosed letter from Strickland read:
Dear Governor Brewer
“Your Chief of Staff and assistants came to my office and demanded my resignation yesterday. They were outraged that my department hired Teri Proud. Almost a year ago, Miss Proud was a legislator when she was being considered for position with our office, and I was instructed not to hire her THEN as she was still legislator and it appeared improper to do so at THAT TIME. I was never instructed not to hire her at any future time; and when the position was available my HR department interviewed her and she was hired. We did not know about her controversial remarks until informed by the Tucson media. By the way, Miss Proud has never worked for us. Your office was also informed that Teri Gent threatened to email veterans groups and claim that you were behind the hiring. I recognize your political concerns, but I had nothing to do with her remarks, nothing to do with Teri Gent’s threats, and I never disobeyed an order from you or your representative. I am disappointed that the media so far has not properly related the true facts and circumstances, and I’m more disappointed that your staff has misrepresented the facts and coerced a resignation. They never mentioned that I disobeyed an order when they demanded my resignation as the newspaper reported since they knew I didn’t disobey an order. I did not hire Miss Proud when she was in the legislature. There was never an order to never hire her. The “order” issue is clearly a pretext because of the concern about Terri Gent’s threats. For one to disobey and order it must be clear and timely. As for her comments, the issue of women in line combat units is still controversial. The term combat has acquired new meanings. It has been proposed giving a higher award than the Bronze Star with a “V” or Purple Heart for Sydney and room thousands of miles away shooting missiles from a drone. The point is that the concept of combat varies, and women should still have all the opportunities they can, but some issues may still need to be resolved. The more important point is that none of this controversy justifies the the treatment of your Chief of Staff, Scott Smith, gave me. I deserve better. You were recently honored as “Advocate of the Year” for continued support of service members and their families. Who do you think did the work for you and nominated you for the award? I did. And this is how you repay me with the trumped up allegation that I “disobeyed in order.” I don’t know how much of the true facts you actually know because many know that your staff insulates you well. If by some chance you actually get to read this, I would ask that you disregard my resignation and allow me to continue to serve the veterans and their families as I’ve done for many years.
In that article posted on April 3, at 2:44 p.m., entitled “Arizona Veterans’ Services director resigns,” Collum wrote:
The director of the Arizona Department of Veteran Services has resigned in part over his hiring of a former state legislator who’s recent comments about women serving on the front lines have inflamed veterans groups.
The Governor’s Office confirmed Wednesday that Joey Strickland had submitted his resignation.
A spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer said Strickland disobeyed a direct order when he hired former Rep. Terri Proud (R-Tucson), who is quoted as questioning a woman’s fitness for combat during menstruation. Strickland hired Proud in March to start work this month as his women’s veterans coordinator.
Brewer’s spokesman, Matthew Benson, said the governor “is grateful for Col. Strickland’s years of honorable service truck country into the state of Arizona” but said he disobeyed a direct order when he hired Proud. Benson said Strickland inquired about hiring Proud a year ago when Proud was still serving in the state Legislature — and was given strict instructions not to.” Benson declined to say why.
Strickland could not immediately be reached for comment. A request for comment from the Arizona Department of Veteran’s Services was not returned.
On April 3, at 4:00 p.m., Al Macias, managing editor at KJZZ wrote Benson questioning a “slightly different version of the story on AP.” Benson responded:
“I don’t know about “forced out of.” He submitted his resignation and the Governor has accepted it. The rest is fairly accurate.”
Collum’s article did not mention the threats to the Governor mentioned in Strickland’s letter.
Tomorrow Part III: Brewer’s brews up concoction, media serves it up
Yesterday Part I: Brewer “betrayal” consistent pattern