The State of West Virginia - Fred Armstrong

Recently, I learned that several weeks ago the West Virginia state Public Employees' Grievance Board denied former state Archives and History director, Fred Armstrong, a hearing regarding his abrupt firing after twenty-two years of service.

Funny that in February, Chief Administrative Law Judge, Janis I. Reynolds, refused Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith's motion to dismiss the case. As stated in a previous blog on this subject, Reid-Smith is the career-challenged, former opera singer who was appointed to the position of Commissioner of the Division of Archives and History by Governor Manchin. It is probably just a coincidence that Reid-Smith's BFF is Gayle Manchin, the gov's wife.

Judge Reynolds retired in March and, sadly, the case was reassigned to acting chief administrative law judge, Denise Spatafore. Her interpretation of the law was evidently different from that of Judge Reynolds, and she denied the hearing Mr. Armstrong had asked for --- and DESERVED (IMHO).

Anyone who has followed this "saga" knows that Fred Armstrong was probably fired for insisting that Commissioner Reid-Smith comply with state law. Unfortunately, Fred did not BLOW THE WHISTLE, but maybe his case would be stronger if he had gone to the upper echelon and made claims of activities that did not comply with the law - sort of like a Whistle Blower. - Don't Whistle Blowers have some sort of rights and protection? Aren't they often rewarded for taking the risk to bring unlawful activities to light? Didn't some Whistle Blowers become Time's Person/People of the Year in 2002 for speaking out about the misdeeds at Enron, etc.?

I dont think there is any doubt that Fred Armstrong was defending a principle - and probably the law. Of course he can't prove 100% that Gayle Manchin's BFF dumped Fred for these reasons... and HOW CONVENIENT that they could dispense with Fred, once and for all, under the blanket of the "WILL & PLEASURE" provision that allows political appointees to be dumped for no reason at all.

When Fred was first fired and escorted from the building by security guards, masses of people were outraged and protested the cruel and inappropriate treatment of such a beloved man and long-time public servant.

But there didn't seem to be a tremendous reaction to the court's refusal to hear his grievance. That's because human nature is just that way. We can become all riled up about something... but usually not for too long, unless it impacts us directly.

We should not forget about Fred Armstrong or the abomination perpetrated upon him by Randall Reid-Smith, probably with the full knowledge and support of his BFF and her hubby. - While the firing may be supported legally, it sure doesn't seem like it was RIGHT.