A few weeks ago, it was revealed that a North Carolina state toxicologist, Ken Rudo, had very serious reservations concerning Gov. Pat I’m-a-homophobe McCrory’s administration’s assertion that the well water near Duke Energy coal ash pits was safe to drink. That revelation was followed up by a classic Republican technique of shooting the messenger by saying Rudo was inconsistent and then screaming “look over there!” while running out the back door. These lame, non-scientific, and utterly unsatisfying responses from Gov. McCrory’s inept administration has led to the state’s epidemiologist, Megan Davies, to resign her position in solidarity.
In a lawsuit brought by environmental groups against Duke Energy, Rudo had testified the he was called to a meeting at Governor Pat McCrory's office. In Rudo's testimony, he says McCrory called into the meeting, during which they discussed how to communicate the elevated levels of toxic elements to well owners who live near Duke Energy's coal ash basins. McCrory's office denied that the governor called in, and accused Rudo of lying under oath.
"The editorial signed by Randall Williams and Tom Reeder presents a false narrative of a lone scientist in acting independently to set health screening levels and make water use recommendations to well owners," Davies wrote in her resignation letter.
She also explains, in no uncertain terms, what she feels is the fundamental problem here. Pointing to the editorial above she says:
Upon reading the open editorial yesterday evening, I can only conclude that the department’s leadership is fully aware that this document misinforms the public. I cannot work for a department and an administration that deliberately misleads the public.
Resigning from this job that I love is a terrible loss to me professionally and personally. Working in the public health system in North Carolina and nationally brings meaning to my life. It has been a privilege to work with the superb public health professionals in the Division of Public Health and all our colleagues across this state. It has been a joy to work with the extraordinary public servants in the Epidemiology Section.
Gov. McCrory and his ilk are not only losing the trust of the electorate, they are losing the people who have actually gone into public service in the hopes of serving the public.