The controversy over the re-appointment of Narda Garcia as Social Security CEO has become personal. Last week Yasin Shoman told 7NEWS (See Shoman on CWU: 'Ludicrous and Totally Ridiculous') that at a board meeting, Garcia's appointment was approved by a majority vote and he noted that one of the votes came from trade union congress representative Horris Patten. Shoman was responding to protestations from the Christian Worker's Union over Garcia's appointment. Today Patten had his say telling Keith Swift that Shoman, in effect, lied. Patten says he did not vote for Garcia. He explains.
Keith Swift,
Let me get this correct from you because I spoke to Mr. Shoman last week.
Horris Patten, Social Security Board Member
"I heard about it."
Keith Swift,
He told me that you were at that meeting and that you voted for Ms. Garcia.
Horris Patten,
"No I did not vote. I did not voted. Mr. Flowers and anybody can tell you that. What we said at the meeting and…let me put down this bag. You see you have to understand that I did not vote for the simple fact that I told the Chairman, and I hope this is reflected in the minutes, that in the inception of the board we discussed rules under which the new CEO would have been employed. That method which we discussed was not done so I immediately asked the Chairman 'did we not agree to go this route where an independent body would have done the interviews and different things of the sort and recommend the person to the board.' He said no and that they did a panel and this is what happened. I did not support that. I asked Mr. Flowers and he said he is a part of the panel and then I said 'well that is fuh unu thing and I…'"
Keith Swift,
So Mr. Shoman was being untruthful when he told me on the phone that you voted for Ms. Garcia's reappointment?
Horris Patten,
"Oh yeah because I did not vote."
