Battle lines are just starting to be sketched in the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and years-old rhetoric from candidate Gloria Romero might put her at odds with one of her primary backers.
Politicos around Sacramento have observed that the California Teachers Association is hitching its wagon to Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, while nonprofit, charter school advocate EdVoice is throwing its weight (and money) behind Romero, a Democratic state senator from Los Angeles.
But here’s where it gets interesting. EdVoice is among the favored causes of Wal-Mart board member Greg Penner and his wife, Carrie Walton-Penner – granddaughter of company founder Sam Walton.
Rewind to 2004 and you’ll see that Romero was no fan of Wal-Mart. She spent months vilifying the retail giant when it tried to open a new Supercenter in the Los Angeles suburb of Rosemead – part of her district in suburban Los Angeles. Here she is at an anti-Wal-Mart rally.
She also spoke out in press releases and media interviews, blasting the company as the "crack-cocaine" of local governments, decrying its "poor record of wages and benefits" and labeling it a "threat to employees at other local retailers."
Fast-forward to her superintendent campaign and Romero has already accepted a $6,500 contribution this year from Greg Penner and another $6,500 from EdVoice, where Carrie Walton-Penner sits on the board.
From what we can tell, EdVoice has received more than $400,000 from Wal-Mart executives and family heirs – money from a family fortune built at least in part on business practices that Romero railed against.
Last year, the Wall Street Journal speculated that Greg Penner was on the fast track to becoming company chairman. He wasn’t on the board when the Rosemead fracas went down, but he was close with the Walton family.
We asked Romero's campaign consultant, Steve Barkan, for comment but haven't heard back yet. We'll keep you posted if we do.
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