On

 Feb  20,  2018,  at  11:19  PM,  Charly  Carter  

<ccarter@workingfamilies.org<mailto:ccarter@workingfamilies.org>>  
wrote:  
 
Fearless  Leaders,  
 
I  just  got  off  the  phone  with  Valerie  who  told  me  that  she  has  officially  
been  offered  the  LG  slot  with  Kevin  Kamenetz.  This  is  a  huge  
opportunity  for  Valerie  and  for  Maryland  Workiing  Families.  I  expect  
there  may  be  press  calls  after  Thursday's  announcement,  I'll  be  
working  with  our  comms  team  to  craft  a  statement.  I  think  it's  
important  that  it  take  a  positive  tone.  
 
On  another  note,  the  National  WF  upon  learning  of  this  opportunity  
terminated  Valerie  effective  Friday.  This  is  disturbing  on  several  levels:  
first,  Valerie  has  a  body  of  work  that  is  left  hanging  in  the  balance;  
second,  instead  of  having  another  ally  in  Maryland  House  this  has  the  
potential  to  damage  relationships;  and  last-­‐-­‐but  perhaps  most  
disturbing-­‐-­‐  is  that  it  asppears  Ben  Jealous'  team  has  been  pushing  for  
Valerie's  to  be  fired  for  since  her  name  was  mentioned  as  one  of  
several  under  consideration.  
 
WFO's  rationale  is  that  the  National  board  will  be  "upset"  by  Valerie  
running  on  a  ticket  competing  against  the  WFO-­‐endorsed  Candidate.  
However,  I  believe  the  only  thing  germane  is  what  the  Maryland  board  
think.  YOU,  not  the  WFNC,  are  the  ones  who  made  the  endorsement,  
and  it  is  YOU  who  will  live  with  the  outcome.  
 
I  think  it  would  be  good  for  us  to  get  on  a  call  this  afternoon/evening  
to  get  on  the  same  page  about  our  response.    Please  let  me  know  if  
3pm,  4pm  or  5pm  work  for  you