Commerce worker says administration forced him out

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Mar 11, 2010 at 10:56 AM MST

Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 10:56 AM MST

HELENA - A veteran Commerce Department employee says he was forced out by the Schweitzer administration after the release of a politically charged list highlighting local grants that had been frozen.

David Cole had been administrator of an agency division and was nearing retirement.

Cole says that Gov. Brian Schweitzer's office was upset that he had responded to a Republican senator's inquiry about why $3.5 million in local government grants were being stalled. That list was made public, and became the focal point of criticism the GOP was levying against the governor.

Cole says he was ordered Friday to pen a hasty handwritten resignation letter and quit immediately. Commerce Director Anthony Preite says he couldn't talk about it even if it did occur due to personnel reasons.

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