Two Chalmette High School educators filed a petition for recall with the Secretary of State’s office for District 103 State Representative Ray Garofalo on June 25.

Peggy Schwarz of Braithwaite and Brenda Boleware of Violet said they were encouraged by fellow teachers, family and friends to take action in against Rep. Garofalo’s non-response to the concerns of his constituency in terms of HB 974, which changes teacher tenure, pay-to-performance and evaluations and the controversial charter school voucher bill HB 976.

“I’ve worked in public schools for 19 years,” said Schwarz, who is a national board certified educator. “We are career teachers and have had favorable evaluations, but we’re tired of the scapegoating.”

Schwarz says that despite criticism from Baton Rouge that teachers protesting Governor Jindal’s education reform bills are representing special interest groups, she and Boleware are spearheading the recall due to their “passion and love of kids in St. Bernard.”

Schwarz reported, “Rep. Garofalo is not doing the job he was elected to do which is to represent the interests of the people of his voting district. Despite a bombardment of letters, emails and phone calls from voters in his district opposing legislation harmful to K-12 public education, higher education and state employees, he has voted against their interests every time.”

Schwarz says she and Boleware are currently waiting for the Secretary of State paperwork to begin gathering signatures, and are planning a public event in the coming weeks.

In order to prompt a recall election, Schwarz and Boleware must have signatures of about one-third of the voters in Garofalo’s district, which she says is about 9,000.

Garofalo district covers St. Bernard, and small sections of Plaqueminees and Orleans Parishes.

This recall is endorsed by and supported by the Recall Bobby Jindal Campaign Committee.  The Jindal Recall Campaign also supports the recalls of Rep. J. Kevin Pearson (R)-Slidell who represents District 76, Rep. Gregory Cromer (R)-Slidell who represents District 90, and Speaker Chuck Kleckley (R)-Lake Charles who represents District 36.  All petitions were filed by educators from their respective districts.