Your March 17 editorial "...Stam's misfires" was highly misleading. My views vary little from other Wake County legislative leaders in the other party.
There should be a proper balance of protection of public employees' privacy and the public's right to know. If there is a credible reason for the release of an employee's private records, they should be opened. However, to allow the idly curious to second guess the qualifications of school teachers and dedicated public employees without cause is not appropriate.
The hiring process is subjective. Job candidates deserve a proper measure of privacy unless violations of law and ethics are in question.
I clearly stated that the level of scrutiny suggested by your editorial would open the hiring authority to constant litigation from disgruntled unsuccessful candidates. The objective standard must be whether there are reasonable allegations of impropriety in the hiring process. It is very unusual for there to be one and only one best qualified candidate in a competitive selection process. We must allow competent principals to select teachers and diligent state managers to select their employees without unjustified inquisitions from the press and threats of litigation from unhappy applicants.
Examples of abuse of the public's trust shown in your recent articles are lamentable and should be exposed. However, the vast majority of our state employees are dedicated public servants. To subject them to the level of scrutiny and harassment suggested by your editorial is not warranted.
Rep. Paul Stam
N.C. House, Republican leader
Apex
