August 5, 2004

Still worse

The Mezzatesta mess

SUSPICIONS surrounding House Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta, D-Hampshire, keep getting smellier.

His two jobs — as a key legislator controlling West Virginia school money, and as a Hampshire school board “grant writer” seeking funds for that county — reeked of conflict of interest when he entered the dual role four years ago. To allay apprehensions, Mezzatesta promised the state Ethics Commission he wouldn’t request state money for Hampshire.

During Ethics Commission hearings this year, state School Superintendent David Stewart testified that the House chairman never sought any state funds. But reporter Eric Eyre found a Jan. 2, 2003, letter from Stewart to Mezzatesta confirming “your request for additional funding” of $100,000 for Hampshire. Stewart admitted that his testimony had been mistaken.

Last month, the delegate produced a copy of a letter to Stewart dated Jan. 13, 2003, reminding the superintendent that “I was not soliciting moneys for my specific school district.” Mezzatesta said the letter proves he never asked for Hampshire funds.

But Eyre discovered that stationery used for the letter wasn’t printed and shipped to the House Education Committee until Feb. 6, 2003, three weeks after the date on the purported letter. Mezzatesta countered by saying the committee’s overworked staff evidently delayed before typing and mailing it. However, Stewart’s office can find no record that such a letter ever was received. House Speaker Bob Kiss, D-Raleigh, has ordered an investigation to learn whether the letter was a recent fabrication.

This is just one of several affronts involving Mezzatesta. He’s the only school employee in the Legislature who double-dips, taking both state and county pay. As far as anyone can learn, he does virtually nothing to earn his $60,000 Hampshire County salary. He never has written a grant application, and the school system found that his only mailings in four years were six form letters. In the Legislature, he’s known as a petty tyrant who threatens state officials.

The Ethics Commission, after first clearing him, may resume its inquiry. The Kanawha County prosecutor is investigating. Now House Speaker Kiss will make a probe. The Kanawha County school board has joined two others in demanding that Mezzatesta be removed as House education chairman because of low ethical standards.

We think that step has been needed for months.