Former member of UASB cleared
A former Uniontown Area School Board member, cleared of violating a federal act because she is employed by Fayette County, said she was the victim of “dirty politics at its best.” “I can hold my head up high,” said Tammy Boyle, employed as an administrative assistant in the county’s human resources department.
“I’m proud of the time I spent on the school board, and I’m proud of the work I do for Fayette County,” she said Friday.
Amber Bell Vail, deputy chief of the Hatch Act Unit, indicated that there was no violation because Boyle was not paid for her county job “with any program financed by a federal loan or a federal grant.”
“Specifically, we have found no evidence that Fayette County receives any federal grant funds for any human resources program or function. Consequently, we are unable to establish that you were subject to the restrictions of the Hatch Act while you were a candidate for Uniontown Area school director,” wrote Bell Vail.
The act puts restrictions on political activities for federally paid employees.
The opinion was issued on Wednesday.
Unsuccessful school board candidate Timothy B. Sandstrom initiated the complaint through the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, a branch of the federal government in Washington, D.C. In January 2007, Sandstrom also sent a letter to Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink and Dr. Charles Machesky, school district superintendent, requesting that Boyle give up either her employment or her board seat.
Boyle said that request was hurtful.
“Not only did they try to hurt me in the political arena, they also tried to hurt me in my livelihood. That’s not even close to being acceptable in polite society,” she said.
Boyle no longer is on the school board. She served for two terms before losing her position in last year’s election.
That election was mired with controversy over proposed renovations to the district’s high school and other buildings. Boyle was in favor of the renovations, and Sandstrom and a group of others disagreed with the plan the board devised.
Sandstrom ran for the school board, but lost in the November election. Sandstrom also ran as an Independent in 2005 and lost then, too.
Boyle said she felt the filing was aimed at smearing her name, and said her family and friends were affected by it.
“It was a very sad and low-down thing to do,” she said.