Steve Heesacker: Tata criticism unwarranted

Regarding the Sept. 20 news article “In Tata’s Army career, a dark side”: I do not understand why The N&O made such an effort to disparage Tony Tata.

In addition to paying an unusual amount of attention to an unelected public official while superintendent of schools and later transportation secretary, you saw fit to denigrate him in an editorial after he resigned. Now you publish a front-page “National Enquirer”-style article on someone who is no longer employed by the county or state.

Pointing out adultery allegations from the 1980s and 1990s while in a clearly disastrous marriage serves what purpose? The “bogus” court order issue leads nowhere.

Tying him to the list of Army generals punished for adultery is misleading because they were general officers when the offenses occurred. Tata was a major when his marriage was in turmoil over 20 years ago.

As you judge and vilify Tata, try to remember you do so to someone who served his country honorably for nearly two decades, served North Carolina students as an educator and then served residents in a demanding position within state government.

I do not know Tata, but I do know he does not deserve the negative attention your paper showers upon him.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Steve Heesacker: Tata criticism unwarranted."