Janie Trumbull: No reason for Tata exposé

I have admired The News & Observer’s investigative reporting on many aspects important to North Carolina such as problems with Medicaid, mental health care, teachers’ salaries, illegal corporation practices in regard to job classification and workman’s compensation benefits, SEANC fraud, etc.

I was, however, appalled to read the Sept. 20 news article “In Tata’s Army career, a dark side” regarding Tony Tata, which delved into details of his marital problems and divorce proceedings, and related documents, while he was still on active military duty, problems that did not preclude his honorable retirement discharge in 2009.

I understand that The N&O was not thrilled with Tata as the Wake County schools superintendent, but that is no longer relevant. Problems with our schools and low teacher salaries are other peoples’ responsibilities now.

Since Tata resigned as Department of Transportation secretary – if that was the original intent of the story – and is now a private citizen, I would like to know the purpose of this story. Was it to make sure that he does not run for a congressional office? Or was it just to sell newspapers?

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 6:09 PM with the headline "Janie Trumbull: No reason for Tata exposé."