Loretta Garner Named Finance Director
The Financial Directors Search Committee has amid much controversy named a new Director, Mrs. Loretta Garner. Mrs. Garner had no part in the controversies but the question arises as to whether she will be able to act independent of her friendship with Mrs. Vanzant? -- Allen Barrett
posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 10:31 PM
65 Comments:
absolutely not.
puppet puppet puppet
whiner whiner whiner
I went to school with Loretta and have NEVER known her to be anything but honest-Give her a chance!!!!
I do not know her either, but I think she should be given a fair chance first, before this blog begins to chastise her. She just might do a pretty good job...
Just wondering, is she black or white? You guys were bringing the race card into the discussion on another topic.
She is white-We graduated from GCHS in 1983-If I'm not mistaken, Loretta graduated in the top 10 of our class-She is an intelligent woman.She is a very sweet person, married her high school sweetheart and has a couple of children. I remember her as being quiet, even a little shy at times, conservative and she is very family oriented. I know she and her husband have worked for everything they have. Like I said earlier, she deserves a chance.She desre
The problem is that the malcontents didn't pick her. It wouldn't matter what color she was or how qualified she was, they would still whine and complain. Worse than that, I believe they would try to cause her trouble. Troublemaking seems their forte.
Problem isn't can she do the job but will she have the characteristics and strength to stand up firmly for what's right? So far she has not shown any assertiveness, just a sweet, quiet, nice lady. The job is going to require a strong, assertive person who can be a major pain when necessary.
anonymous,
No, the real problem is that the malcontents didn't put their "stamp of approval" on Ms. Garner.
How dare you to presume (suggest) that she may lack the moral fortitude to do the right thing in that office! Oh, but I'm sure the malcontents will try to dig up something to use against her. I hope they can't find a darned thing!
You mentioned that the job will require a strong and assertive person. Would you mind naming one or two that you would like to see in that position?
Posted by one of the many anonymous.
She is a very sweet person, married her high school sweetheart and has a couple of children. I remember her as being quiet, even a little shy at times, conservative and she is very family oriented. I know she and her husband have worked for everything they have.
What has that got to do with being the second best for the job and the one Vanzant feels she can control?
I, too, graduated with Loretta Garner -- very smart and respectful girl.
Anonymous...
I'm sure you guys can "dig up some dirt" to use against her. Has your investigation begun?
She just might be the right "fit" if you guys would stop complaining and give her a chance. For goodness sakes!
No matter how you look she was not the best qualified for the job. If you were at the interviews you would know. Where she came from, who she married and all the rest has nothing to do towards qualifing her for the position. She was picked because she was seen as the redneck county girl (her words)or the weak sister (mine). Since she will be out of her element she will probably be able to be controlled by Vanzant and the committee that are paying her $70,000 for which she will be so grateful. It to be seen how grateful. The people of Gile could be sold down the river. If she does that I feel her pay should have been 30 pieces of silver. It will be to late for the people of Giles to get the accountability we voted for. Most of the powers that be do not want the financial management control. It steps on T Jackson's toes for one.
Do you think the whole committee felt the same way? Do you think that they all want to control her? Were you part of the interview process? Is the most qualified always hired?
When things are not done properly, good people get hurt. We are building a rich history of it. We have now placed another in harms way!
If a highly qualified person was not interviewed and considered for any reason that can't be discussed, we have a colossal blunder. If it was done for racial motives, the few who did it have exposed the county to great financial risk and untold division and hardship within. Yes the liability should be personal to those responsible, but it always falls on the taxpayer who hates that it happened and unfortunately can't really punish those who deserve it.
What if Mrs. Garner isn't the highest qualified. She is a degreed accountant and a CPA. A CPA carries an oath of obligation and character as well as professional accounting knowledge and achievement. She quit a good job to come to Giles County. She was invited and asked to come!
If her her former employer was Glenn Hardison, she worked for a CPA of outstanding competence and character - a person of absolute integrity and honesty. If she was there, she was in an excellent environment!
So, what happens if the "other" candidate is equally qualified, scored higher on the independent evaluation, is a minority, and was excluded for no legitimate documented reason? It is a disaster for both candidates and the county! This is where the dictators will find the judge has the hammer. There will be pure hell to pay!
It isn't a time to choose between candidates or pick apart character of either person. Mrs. Garner is in a tough assignment & we must support her. By the same token, the person who was probably wronged, deserves the same consideration and respect. This isn't about the "candidates", it about those who screwed up the hiring process! Keep focused!
Please just give her a chance-She hasnt even started working yet!She's tougher than anyone might think!!
Maybe she isn't the most highly "qualified", but she just may be the right fit for the job.
I agree with Anonymous of the 10:11 post from yesterday.
The problem is not Mrs.Garner, please don’t make her the scape-goat for the wrongful behavior of others. She was not my first choice but whether she will be the best choice or not is yet to be seen. She certainly is in a very difficult position and I hope she will prove to be the right choice. I certainly will be pulling for her. The problem is with the way the committee conducted its business. Led by the manipulations of Mrs. Vanzant, who did not want a Financial Director and has done most everything within her power to prevent a smooth hiring process and implementation of the act, the committee violated both state and federal law. Consider that she refused to appoint anyone but commissioners to the open positions on the committee, tried to hold private meetings, did meet in secret with members, misled the committee and the public about there being no qualified applicants, falsified minutes to lower the qualifications, ignored warnings that her actions were leading to a possible lawsuit, allowed secret balloting that denied the highest rated applicant an interview, allowed secret balloting that allowed the least qualified to be scheduled for interview as a finalist, defied orders to redo the secret voting.
It is primarily the behavior of Mrs. Vanzant and Commissioner Jackson that led to the resignation of Commissioner Howell from the committee and the filing of a complaint to the EEOC.
It is not Mrs. Garner that did these things and it is not her fault that they were done, it is the result of the attitude by some of being above the law and the people. It’s the attitude of having the people serve those elected and appointed rather than they serve the people. This county can not reasonably expect any progress to take place as long as we tolerate secret meetings and secret dealings and manipulative behavior that openly ignores the law. Why are we one of the few counties in the entire state that is losing population? We can not tolerate attitudes, behaviors and tactics that are more characteristic of the 1920’s and expect to survive in the 21st century. Giles County is a great place with wonderful potential but our people have gotten distracted from the business of the county and the activity of being responsible citizens. Allen Barrett
From my previous post:
She is a very sweet person, married her high school sweetheart and has a couple of children. I remember her as being quiet, even a little shy at times, conservative and she is very family oriented. I know she and her husband have worked for everything they have.
The reason the above has something to do with the situation is b/c Loretta is a good person. Perfect, probably not. None of us are. I went to school with her, consider her a friend and I've never known her NOT to be honest or stand up for something she believes is right-She will do her best in the job or she will get out if she feels she cant do it-She deserves a chance.
I wasnt the meetings so I dont know if things were done correctly or not.BUT I do know Loretta and I know that not for one minute will she be dishonest or just go along for the sake of a job. She had as much right to apply for the job as anyone else. She is a CPA and can get another job if she chooses. Like the above says, she will do her best and if she cant, she'll get out. She had a job when this situation came along and she'll find another one if it doesnt work out. She's tough. Cant you tell already she is. She hasnt given up. Alot of other people may have caved over all the controversary, but not Loretta. She's going to be fine but she does deserve the chance to prove herself
Allen you may be right but I feel Mrs. Garner could still be considered a problem. If in her inexperience she let T Jackson out from under the Financial Management act. It will be to late.
Am example of what I mean is I have a doctor who is an ears, nose and throat doctor and surgeon. He is a fantastic person, married his high school sweetheart and has a couple of children. I remember him as being quiet, even a little shy at times, conservative and he is very family oriented. I know him and his wife have worked for everything they have. He is a good person. Perfect, probably not. None of us are. I consider him a friend and I've never known him NOT to be honest or stand up for something he believes is right - he will do his best in the operation. Some may feel he deserves a chance. But I am still not going to let him operate on my eyes. If he does something wrong it will be to late and I will probably be blind. There would be no going back and start over. I want the best there is for the job.
This county has so many problem we needed the best person for the job. Not another possible problem.
WAB,
We are losing populations because of regressive leadership (County Executive and Commissioners), and because of trouble makers such as you.
By the way, Connie Howell did a fine job of letting the committee get their way, then resigning when it was too late. I believe that she enjoys the attention of being loud.
Were the other candidates experienced in being financial management directors?
One had ten years experience as a financial management director in a town larger than Pulaski. Allen Barrett
do we have a budget that is not balanced? don't we have a difference of $1,100,000.00? i am interested in how Gardner will come up with the more money without raising taxes? maybe the commissioners and Jackson know?
wab...
Wrong again! Let me help you once more to clear up another of your misunderstandings.
Giles Countians may be distracted, but it's largely because of you and your little group who just keep on sowing seeds of distrust. I still suspect your true motives, but that's another issue for another day, isn't it?
I believe Giles County is a wonderful place to live. I was born and raised here and will never leave. People here are largely generous and responsible. But things have changed, and, sadly, for the worse. That's progress? I think not.
You said that we cannot tolerate attitudes, behaviors, and tactics that are more characteristic of the 1920's and expect to survive in the 21st century. Pardon me, but I thought we were doing just fine before you guys started stirring up trouble. Oh, but that makes me an ostrich who lacks knowledge, right?
By the way, it looks like you may have made another enemy by the way you talked about Connie Howell. Did you stop to think that she may have relatives in your district who can vote against you the next time you run for office? Think.
You know wab, Anonymous could be right when he or she said “Did you stop to think that she may have relatives in your district who can vote against you the next time you run for office? “ It reminds me of a story that is supposed to be true. I do not know for sure. But, “The older brother was talking to his younger brother. He told him not to date any girls in Giles County because if momma wasn’t related them Daddy was”. It could by why some people were elected to be a Commissioner over others. They have a lot of relatives. Not that they were the best choice. That seems to be the way they do everything around here. No wonder Giles has so many problems. You know, I am beginning to not be able to tell one anonymous from another. I wonder, could they all be related????
To anonymous of 7:36 post.
Look you can “suspect” my motives all you want. As long as I understand what I am doing and why I’m really not concerned with your unfounded suspicions. You have such an unbelievable way of seeing nothing that is right in front of you. Your statement, “but I thought we were doing just fine before you guys started stirring up trouble” doesn’t show you as an ostrich but a person in complete denial of reality. If you went to the doctor with a stomach ache and after some extensive testing he diagnosed the problem as cancer but said it was treatable would you then curse at the doctor for causing you to have cancer? Would you refuse the treatment because you preferred to think of yourself as having only a stomach ache? It’s much the same with some areas of our government, the problems have been there and the treatment is difficult but without the treatment the cancer only grows stronger and more pervasive. Very little is ever made better by ignoring it.
I had determined not to respond to anymore of your stupid, inane comments but can not ignore your lie implied by your statement, “By the way, it looks like you may have made another enemy by the way you talked about Connie Howell”. I’m sure it will fall on deaf ears to challenge you to produce one negative statement I have made about Mrs. Howell.
I have not made any false or negative statements about her and in fact hold her in rather high esteem. So, unless you can provide said statement you have once again proven yourself to be a liar, a rumormonger and person of low character. Please don’t come back with I’m mad, I’m not, just disgusted by such a low life liar.
Allen Barrett
Coming from the man of God.
Hey A-NAG-U-MUST, You were asked to either give evidence of what you said or be a liar. Guess from your post we know what you have chosen to be. That comes as no surprise from me, you showed your true color "black with two white stripes".
anonymous are you suggesting that a person can't be a "man of God" because they won't allow someone to lie about them without challengening that person or lie?
Mrs. Garner may be a very nice person, but I know for a fact she is not qualified for the job. I can’t reveal more because of my job.
yessir wab knows it all huh, even got on the news as a sh@t stirrer. he oughtta run for commissioner...ohh i forgot he already has and no one wanted him in there either to stir the pot, so he has to do it here.
I for one am glad WAB didn't get elected. He is much much more effective doing what he is doing. Never give up WAB. You do make a big difference and many of us in Giles Co do appreciate you.
Incidently, WAB did not make any comments about Mrs. Howell. You Dumb Butt, can't even read the posting correctly.
wab
You said one candidate had ten years experience as a finance director, what about the woman who is a state auditor, wouldn't that give her experience on a local level?
Anonymous 7:08
Is there ANY way you could reveal what you know like maybe meeting someone somewhere. I know, what about dropping a note to WAB without your return address. WAB is William Allen Barrett in the phone book. I have a feeling she was let go from an accounting firm (and maybe in Columbia) due to incompetence but didnt put it on her application.
der..
Do yourself a favor and hop a bus North.
And NO, contrary to your stereotypical belief, we are NOT all related down here. Just because we talk slow does not mean we are of low intelligence and victims of incest!
Hop that bus, and take some of the whiners with you. We will miss you.
wab...
Excuuuuuuuuse me, but I owe you an apology. Can't believe I just said that. But an HONEST man will always apologize when wrong. The post was from an anonymous person to you regarding Connie Howell. I do apologize for the error. I should have paid closer attention, because I just couldn't see the two of you being at odds over anything.
Thanks for describing my behavior for me again. I truly stand in awe of you. But I am NOT a liar. And, by the way, I too have relatives in your district. So toss your hat in the ring again along with a couple of your buddies, and see how far you get!
Who of WABs buddies live in his district for your relatives to vote for? Fact, Connie howell has no relatives in city district.
706 You talk slow because the gray matter between "A" the top of your hair line & "B" your jaw is total bone. Takes a long time for anything to get from A to B & what ever does trickle down has no subtance.
The jaw flapper is stuck on flappin, whether there's anything to flap about, or not.........
You really need an overhaul.
anonymous..
Go back and read my post again. It was a simple sentence. Isaid that I too have relatives who live in wab's district. I can assure you that they will vote against him.
I NEVER said that he had buddies who live in the same district who would run against him.
Try to read it again and decipher before you pop a cork.
Yes, I'm a first cousin to the Neandertal (low forehead and single eyebrow). Hilarious.
To anonymous, Anyone can make a mistake, apology accepted. Allen Barrett
Say anonymous (Thursday, July 19, 2007 7:06:00 AM) talk about sterotypical beliefs you assume because someone told a story about Gile that they have to be from the north. Incase you haven't noticed there are people from all over the country moving here. It is the Giles born people that are moving out. The story must have hit a nerve. You are the one that brought up low intelligence and incest. For your information, the whiners as you call them are the only ones actively trying keep the people from being taxed to death. What are you doing to help the county? By the way do you know how to get a bridge named after you????
Bridge? Get drunk, get yourself killed?? Am I right?
What about all the innocent souls out there who could be killed because of drunk driving.
County commissioners should cease and desist getting involved immediately. Bravo to the odd few commissioners who have voted against the naming of bridges. By law, this should be left to the State.
los...
Wrong, my whining friend. It was bart who kept referring to sexual perversion, incest, and problems with intelligence. But I thought I had cleared up those misunderstandings along with his feelings of insecurity that necessitated his displacing those behaviors onto me.
I never implied that anybody was from the North. I simply stated that if someone is unhappy here, he or she could always hop a bus headed North. Honestly, I don't care which direction they go.
You ask what I am doing for the betterment of Giles County. All I can tell you is that I work and support the economy of the county. I am a property owner and a law-abiding citizen. Being just an ordinary citizen, I would suggest to you that I do as much as any other ordinary Giles Countian. However, I don't go out on Saturdays and pick up trash. Do you?
And now there will be complaints about bridges? Do you people ever find anything good about Giles County?
Anonymous, July 20, 9:18
You have a large problem in assuming people writing in about issues of concern in Giles Co are only the same handful. Wrong!
anonymous...
I don't make assumptions about things I know and have seen. How asinine of you to assume that I assume. You know what happens when you assume, don't you?
los & teddy....
i hope that boys' family never reads or hears about that comment...
i would think they suffered enough without it...
falling off that high horse you are riding might come back in the form of karma X3..
God what an ugly thing to even think my less say!!!
all this boils down to is that vanzant is corrupt crooked and a liar and can't be trusted. she's the one that needs to go. I'm sure mrs. garner would do a great job working for someone with integrety.
Anonymous ..Monday, July 23, 2007 9:12:00 PM said.
I'm sure mrs. garner would do a great job working for someone with integrety.
You could be right but I do not think Mrs. Garner will ever get that chance, at least not for another 3+ years. So we need someone not afraid of Vanzant.
losander..
Why don't you people calm down and at least give Ms. Garner a chace, for Pete's sakes!
Who is Pete?
Because once she messes up royally there will be no recovering from it. Get it through your head; the Powers that Be do not want the Financial Management Act to work. They want to do their own purchasing. They do not care to save the county money. As seen by the new ambulance station that is costing us more than $250,000. This is not a one time bill but one we will be paying annually. By the way this station is more for Milky Way then it is the county. Wonder what District 4 commissioners received for pushing it through?
los..
I see you are a member of the infamous whine gang.
Could you identify anything good about Giles County? If not, why do you stay here?
There are many things good about Giles but it does not mean I have to be taxed to death to enjoy Giles. Of course if I was like you with money coming out your mouth/---. I wouldn't care about a few $100,000 cost here and there. If you call being concerned about taxes making me a whiner then I guess I am. The way you are talking you must be a Vanzant.
los...
You are totally wrong about my lack of concern. My concern is with people like you who are so filled with resentment and jealousy toward certain elected officials.
Let me clear something up for you. I work for a living and have to struggle to survive like most folks. But I do not despise those who are not in my situation. I have sense enough to know that those who have money make it possible for me to have things. That's how it is. Shouldn't I be thankful for my job instead of hating the person who pays me for working? I think not.
Lastly, I am neither kin nor close friend of the Vanzants. However, I have known the family for many years and believe them to be good people. Oh, and I know you will respond to that statement, won't you?
los..
I've been thinking about the question I asked you. Should I hate the person who pays me a living wage and thereby makes it possible for me to provide for my family? Please answer that one for me. Thanks.
Anonymous said...
los..
I've been thinking about the question I asked you. Should I hate the person who pays me a living wage and thereby makes it possible for me to provide for my family? Please answer that one for me. Thanks. Sunday, July 29, 2007 12:55:00 PM
So you are telling me you work for the county. I can understand now why you do not care if the taxes are raised. You figure there is more money and you can get a raise. You do not care about anyone else like those on fixed income. You only care about yourself and yours and the he-- with any one else. Your just like Vanzant and T. Jackson.
We got off the subject. I sure hope Loretta Garner has the spunk and guts that many believe she has. Or we can be in deep poo. I see Vanzant want to spend more money and buy the Suntrust building. I wonder where she thinks we will get all the money. We would be smarter to get rid of her.
los..
Please answer my question about hating the man who pays me a living wage. Thank you.
601 - Why would anyone hate their a good employer? There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, having a high income job, or owning your own business - but that isn't your point! A good employer knows how to make money by serving the public, not scamming the public treasury!
You want to tax the people to give hustlers free utilities, buildings, & a business to operate. You want to give them tax free loans, guarantees, tax free status, wage subsidies, etc. In other words, you want to tax the citizens to give to the rich! Your brass ring is a broom and shovel. The big man might give a job to some otherwise unemployable idiot like you.
Sounds like you've been huddlin with Reedy, Lovable, & Holt
Thanks "August 01, 2007 8:58:00 PM" that is a great answer, and I appreciate the help, but it will probably not sink in to his head. You need to add Woodard to the Lovell group also.
anonymous...
Since los will not answer my question, why don't you try it? And please don't try to spin it to imply that I meant something totally different than what I said.
Go ahead since you seem to be one of the "enlightened few" in this county who knows everything.
Budget Office
Name:
Judy Roberts, Budge Director
Location:
1 Public Square
Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:00pm
Phone:
931-363-5486
Fax:
931-424-6101
E-mail:
GCBudget@BellSouth.Net
giles web page says judy is our budget director still ....
wrong.
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