A recent opinion piece in the Fernandina Beach News Leader demonstrates the shallow nature of objections to truth and transparency. Spreading lies and misrepresentations only seeks to divide our community. Nassau Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) protects freedom for the entire community, especially children and public transparency to benefit everyone. Popular meetings with limited seating require registration.
Below are responses to the opinion piece from “John Smith”.
UPDATE: 3.12.24
Pastor Zach Terry speaking about objections to protecting children from porn. Don’t allow anyone to stop you from speaking the truth and protecting children – ALL children.
Submitted by Rich Lamken, longtime CDF member and leader on the education team championing transparency and accountability.
On Friday, March 1st, the News Leader published a Letter to the Editor, from a John Smith, containing several lies about me and inferring that my concern for the Nassau County School District is because I am so corrupt. My response, which was sent to the NL for publishing as a Letter to the Editor, is below.
Just the facts, John Smith
Mr. Smith obviously was so interested in investigating me that he both misspelled my name and misidentified my employer in Mendocino County, CA. I never worked for the “Mendocino school district”. What are the facts?
The county Grand Jury (GJ) in Mendocino was notorious for publishing baseless, unverified anonymous allegations made about senior members of management in public institutions. The county newspaper liked to splash these allegations on the front page. My turn came during my first year. I was interviewed by the GJ and asked a series of strange and unrelated questions. They refused to tell me why I was there or what the allegations were that were made about me. So much for due process. They also interviewed both the Associate Superintendent and the Superintendent of Schools, again with no mention of the allegations. The GJ published their “findings” after no investigation of the veracity of the allegations. All three of us were asked to respond and our responses published at the back of the newspaper.
The Superintendent made a public statement that he fully investigated these allegations and found them completely without merit. He stated that I was doing exemplary work and was a credit to the agency. Because of my expertise in organizational development, I was asked to lead a complete revamping of the agency’s structure starting with its core values. Passion, innovation, teamwork, customer service, accountability and integrity were the six we chose. We decide these values were all non-negotiable. Every present or future employee must live out these values every day. In the restructure, I was promoted to the position of the Assistant Superintendent for HR & Technology. I served on the Superintendent’s Cabinet for all six years there. I was a leader in the statewide professional organization of county Chief Human Resource officers. When I opted to relocate to be much closer to my wife in the SF bay area, I was chosen from a very large field of applicants to lead the HR department of a very prestigious school district.
It’s unfortunate that Mr. Smith feels it necessary to defame me based on allegations that were ultimately proven to be false, just to push his own agenda.
Nothing to see here, Mr. Smith, other than an accomplished HR professional/executive who was extremely successful in both the public and private sectors.
Richard Lamken
Fernandina Beach, FL
Comments in Citizens Journal from Michael Miller, long-time CDF member and supporter
Responding to Letter in News-Leader Attacking Citizens Defending Freedom
Responding to Letter in News-Leader Attacking Citizens Defending Freedom
Original News Leader Opinion from “John Smith”
