Editor, Smithfield Times

 

The editor’s column in the Sept. 9 issue of the Times discussed a topic near and dear to my heart. It wasn’t Georgie D. Tyler Middle School; it was something much more important to this county: accountability. That article, and a another published in the Smithfield Times on June 17 state that Peter Andreu submitted a grant application that resulted in the county obtaining $7.5 million from the federal government for construction of Georgie D. Tyler Middle School.

 

Furthermore, The Smithfield Times reported in the June article that, “emails dating back to 2009 show that the architectural and construction management firms that guided construction of the new Georgie D. Tyler Middle School spent many hours consulting on the merits of building the facility before they were hired”. The article later points out that Mr. Andreu has since resigned his county position and taken a job in California with the management company that was provided pre-bid process information.

 

Should there have been charges filed against Mr. Andreu? What about an investigation of the entire contract award process? Where is the Commonwealth’s Attorney office on this matter?

 

I’ve been in the Navy for 15 years and read countless stories in the Navy Times about commanding officers and their senior subordinates being relieved for lack of confidence over similar demonstrations of inaction. I am 100 percent confident that if the county’s leadership were held to the same standards, there would be an uproar asking for senior leadership resignations over this matter.

 

We need a Commonwealth’s Attorney that will, through local, state and/or federal investigation, hold anyone found to be involved in this fraud accountable for what they have done. That is why I support Jennifer Stanton for Commonwealth’s Attorney.

 

Joe Klopfer
Windsor