Cleveland Advocate - News
Former candidate for Pct. 5 JP: ‘They defecated on Tarkington Prairie’
Ringewold files EEOC complaint against Liberty County, alleging unfair decision
By ALEX WUKMAN
A former candidate for the office of Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace has filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) because she was “discriminated against because of my sex, female.”
Bernadine Ringewold, 61, alleges in her complaint that she attended a meeting of the Liberty County Commissioners Court on Aug. 26 of this year to ask to be appointed to fulfill the unexpired term of retiring Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Burl Thomas.
In the complaint, Ringewold states that she “spoke for three minutes. After I spoke, Lee Groce, [Pct. 2] commissioner, asked if there was anyone else who wanted the position. No one answered.”
The complaint goes on to say that Groce then asked John Burke “if he wanted the job. Mr. Burke stated that he was not prepared to speak and was not on the agenda.”
According to the complaint, Groce waived the requirement of being on the agenda to speak before the court.
The complaint also states that “after Burke spoke, Groce told everyone that the position will be appointed to Joe McAnally.” Ringewold states in the complaint that in her view she is more qualified for the position of Justice of the Peace than McAnally and that “no reason was given to me as to why I was not given the position of Justice of the Peace.”
Groce said that the appointment of McAnally was not discriminatory in any way.
“The statute is very clear, as long as the candidate meets the qualifications. [It has] nothing to do with color, creed or gender; [it] has to do with who the court appoints,” said Groce.
He went on to say that McAnally is very qualified for the position. “He has lived in the area for over 60 years. He’s a lifelong resident, an upstanding citizen, a deacon of the church and community-minded,” said Groce.
Groce also stated that the commissioners court based their decision to appoint McAnally on who they “thought would fill out the unexpired term [best]; who we thought would make fair decisions.”
Naturally Ringewold sees things very differently.
“They defecated on Tarkington Prairie. They literally defecated on Tarkington Prairie,” said Ringewold.
She states that her not being appointed to the position of Pct 5 Justice of the Peace was purely political.
She alleges that her repeated attempts to unseat Thomas from his office left some hard feelings.
“Burl didn’t like me running against him. I made it clear that he didn’t come in to work. He’d be out feeding his cattle,” said Ringewold.
She stated that she felt that Groce and Thomas colluded with other members of the commissioners court before Thomas retired to ensure that she wouldn’t get appointed to the position of justice of the peace and that McAnally knew about the plans.
“Joe was putting on his hat and telling everyone on the prairie that he was going to be the next justice of the peace,” said Ringewold.
Ringewold stated that when she learned of Thomas’ retirement she went to each commissioner individually to present her resume and answer any questions they might have.
“[Pct. 4] Commissioner [Norman] Brown said, ‘I’ll definitely hire you unless someone is more qualified’; [Pct. 3] Commissioner [Melvin] Hunt said, ‘Wow, you’re way up there’; and [Pct. 1] Commissioner [Todd] Fontenot said, ‘I don’t want to appoint anyone who isn’t as qualified as you,’” said Ringewold. None of her claims can be confirmed however.
Ringewold’s resume includes an associate’s degree in criminal justice, 20 years of managing her own private investigation firm, being bilingual as well as being fluent in American Sign Language. She stated that she “had a lot of experience with the job [of justice of the peace] and I felt that I knew it.”
Ringewold is more offended by how light McAnally’s resume appears to her than how he got the office.
“I’m sure he’s a nice person but he’s not qualified for the job,” said Ringewold. “If we had gotten one of the state troopers that live out here I would have stepped aside.”
She also stated that in her eyes Tarkington Prairie is still a place dominated by political affiliations.
“Out there in town [Cleveland], it’s city law. Here, it’s who you know,” said Ringewold.
She went on to say that she “found out that they didn’t want a Republican and they didn’t want a woman.”
Groce disagrees wholeheartedly with her assessment and points out the fact that Peggy Dunn currently serves as the Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace.
“Peggy Dunn was elected and has served well,” said Groce. He also stated that since the position is a politically appointed one it doesn’t fall under the jurisdiction of the Texas Fair Labor Board, but Liberty County is not planning on backing down.
“We have attorneys who will respond to this at the Fair Labor Board even though it has nothing to do with the Fair Labor Board,” said Groce.
His statement infuriates Ringewold even more.
“‘My attorneys will take care of it’ and the people will have to pay for it,” said Ringewold.
There is currently no date set for Ringewold’s appearance before the Fair Labor Board. There is a date set for the expiration of McAnally’s term of office, Dec. 31, 2010.
Bernadine Ringewold, 61, alleges in her complaint that she attended a meeting of the Liberty County Commissioners Court on Aug. 26 of this year to ask to be appointed to fulfill the unexpired term of retiring Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Burl Thomas.
In the complaint, Ringewold states that she “spoke for three minutes. After I spoke, Lee Groce, [Pct. 2] commissioner, asked if there was anyone else who wanted the position. No one answered.”
The complaint goes on to say that Groce then asked John Burke “if he wanted the job. Mr. Burke stated that he was not prepared to speak and was not on the agenda.”
According to the complaint, Groce waived the requirement of being on the agenda to speak before the court.
The complaint also states that “after Burke spoke, Groce told everyone that the position will be appointed to Joe McAnally.” Ringewold states in the complaint that in her view she is more qualified for the position of Justice of the Peace than McAnally and that “no reason was given to me as to why I was not given the position of Justice of the Peace.”
Groce said that the appointment of McAnally was not discriminatory in any way.
“The statute is very clear, as long as the candidate meets the qualifications. [It has] nothing to do with color, creed or gender; [it] has to do with who the court appoints,” said Groce.
He went on to say that McAnally is very qualified for the position. “He has lived in the area for over 60 years. He’s a lifelong resident, an upstanding citizen, a deacon of the church and community-minded,” said Groce.
Groce also stated that the commissioners court based their decision to appoint McAnally on who they “thought would fill out the unexpired term [best]; who we thought would make fair decisions.”
Naturally Ringewold sees things very differently.
“They defecated on Tarkington Prairie. They literally defecated on Tarkington Prairie,” said Ringewold.
She states that her not being appointed to the position of Pct 5 Justice of the Peace was purely political.
She alleges that her repeated attempts to unseat Thomas from his office left some hard feelings.
“Burl didn’t like me running against him. I made it clear that he didn’t come in to work. He’d be out feeding his cattle,” said Ringewold.
She stated that she felt that Groce and Thomas colluded with other members of the commissioners court before Thomas retired to ensure that she wouldn’t get appointed to the position of justice of the peace and that McAnally knew about the plans.
“Joe was putting on his hat and telling everyone on the prairie that he was going to be the next justice of the peace,” said Ringewold.
Ringewold stated that when she learned of Thomas’ retirement she went to each commissioner individually to present her resume and answer any questions they might have.
“[Pct. 4] Commissioner [Norman] Brown said, ‘I’ll definitely hire you unless someone is more qualified’; [Pct. 3] Commissioner [Melvin] Hunt said, ‘Wow, you’re way up there’; and [Pct. 1] Commissioner [Todd] Fontenot said, ‘I don’t want to appoint anyone who isn’t as qualified as you,’” said Ringewold. None of her claims can be confirmed however.
Ringewold’s resume includes an associate’s degree in criminal justice, 20 years of managing her own private investigation firm, being bilingual as well as being fluent in American Sign Language. She stated that she “had a lot of experience with the job [of justice of the peace] and I felt that I knew it.”
Ringewold is more offended by how light McAnally’s resume appears to her than how he got the office.
“I’m sure he’s a nice person but he’s not qualified for the job,” said Ringewold. “If we had gotten one of the state troopers that live out here I would have stepped aside.”
She also stated that in her eyes Tarkington Prairie is still a place dominated by political affiliations.
“Out there in town [Cleveland], it’s city law. Here, it’s who you know,” said Ringewold.
She went on to say that she “found out that they didn’t want a Republican and they didn’t want a woman.”
Groce disagrees wholeheartedly with her assessment and points out the fact that Peggy Dunn currently serves as the Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace.
“Peggy Dunn was elected and has served well,” said Groce. He also stated that since the position is a politically appointed one it doesn’t fall under the jurisdiction of the Texas Fair Labor Board, but Liberty County is not planning on backing down.
“We have attorneys who will respond to this at the Fair Labor Board even though it has nothing to do with the Fair Labor Board,” said Groce.
His statement infuriates Ringewold even more.
“‘My attorneys will take care of it’ and the people will have to pay for it,” said Ringewold.
There is currently no date set for Ringewold’s appearance before the Fair Labor Board. There is a date set for the expiration of McAnally’s term of office, Dec. 31, 2010.
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