Nancy Hamant comments on executive director's message

April 17, 2006

Attached is a communique from Damon Asbury. I sincerely hope that all doors to corruption have been closed and Dr. Asbury is not just providing "damage control" to a very serious issue, which is that trust in the STRS staff and particularly those CEOs, CFO's, and staff lawyers has been and continues to be damaged to the extent that STRS staff are not trusted.

No educator believes that STRS Board members who swear an oath to protect STRS assets for its members, or STRS staff members who are under contract and as such are fully responsible for protecting STRS assets DO NOT have the power to stop or prevent the past excessive spending. In fact, it seems that such responsibility falls directly on the shoulders of the Chief Executive officer and the Chief Financial officer. What ever happened to Harry Truman's "the buck stops here"?

Also, Dr. Asbury has not addressed the fact that some Sidaway witnesses (STRS staff) expressed a need for immunity not only for misdemeanors but also for FELONIES! What occurred at STRS during the past "spend and travel" period that could possibly be a felony? If anything occurred, how swiftly will such behavior be dealt with and when will the STRS members be informed as to the STRS action taken to rectify any such past felonious behavior? Where have the STRS Internal Auditors been throughout the past period and now? It is my understanding that those special auditors are required to monitor STRS to assure that neither misdemeanors nor felonious activities are incurred by STRS staff or STRS Board members?

It is paramount, that the Ohio Ethics Commission continues to forge ahead with charges against those who have violated the trust of STRS members. Each case it appears will shed new light on what happened at STRS and will provide continued guidance to ensure that such misspending never, ever happens again.

Nancy Hamant