Pot-Shot Patrick Manteiga: You Heard It Wrong

As I picked up this week’s La Gaceta for lining the bottom of my birdhouse, I did glance at Patrick Manteiga’s “As We Heard It” column. There was the usual drivel supporting Democrats and the usual drivel attacking Republicans. This week’s skunkweed was a bit more personal.

Anyone who follows local politics knows that Carol Carter, the Hillsborough County Republican state committeewoman, resigned her position a couple of weeks back for forwarding a racist email. Many even thought her apologies less than sincere.

My wife, Dr. Janice Torgersen, a longtime local educator, is currently Corresponding Secretary to the local Republican Party’s Executive Committee. Two weeks ago, she publicly denounced Carter’s actions for reports within the Tampa Tribune and St. Pete Times. She also publicly announced her candidacy for that same Hillsborough committeewoman seat.

According to Patrick, Carter is seeking to be reelected and “Torgersen is making calls to drum up support for the disgraced Carol Carter.” As you now know, Patrick got it wrong.

But then, to add some spice to his commentary, Patrick went on the say, “The Democrats hope for gains in this county will soar if Carter and Torgersen are joined by other Republicans in turning back the clock of the GOP by reelecting a leader who shares no commitment to diversity.”

To imply Janice Torgersen a racist is absurd. To imply me a racist through marriage is simply “fightin words.”

Janice is a Tampa native and went to school at Villa Madonna, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Sacred Heart. She was the minority among many Hispanics and Italians. She was a founding member of St. Lawrence Catholic parish. Her sons were baptized in Monsignor Higgins’ garage.

Between our families, we have 14 nieces and nephews, many through adoption: 5 are bi-racial (black), one is Korean/Black, two are Vietnamese, and one is Haitian. I won’t mention all of their kids, but our yearly reunion is like the U.N.

Professionally, Dr. Janice Torgersen created the Impact Program for the Hillsborough School District, computer generated instructional labs to help “at-risk” students graduate. She represented the district in the original Enlace project and wrote for the $5 million grant to create partnerships for Hispanic students with HCC and USF. And, she wrote the grant that created the CARIBE Refugee Program for the district’s Department of Adult Education, which has now served over 12,000 adult students with about $18 million in total funding.

Oh…one more thing. Janice also helps my sister direct a Christian church, orphanage, and school in Bon Repo Haiti.

Get a Life, Mr. Patty Patoot. Attack me…not my wife!

posted by admin @ 3:42 PM