BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County election official who 23ABC was told retired from the elections department just days before super Tuesday is now telling 23ABC News that she did not retire, but was ousted.
23ABC’s Tori Cooper spoke to election office officials early Wednesday evening when they would not comment on the details behind Jackie St. George’s alleged retirement. However, shortly after the story appeared online St. George called 23ABC to say that she did not retire, but was ousted from her position.
When asked is she had retired, St. George said, "I did not retire. I was literally removed from my position last Thursday. What I was told was that I was on a year's probation. I didn't have to be told what the reason was and this was by Mary Bedard. She told me that I did not have to get a reason for why I was being removed and she just said you need to leave. So I ended up having to do the walk of shame through the entire office because they didn't seem to think it would be nice enough to let me do that after people had left work or they were congregated in another area."
When asked is she thought Kern County was ready for Super Tuesday, St. George seemed confident that the elections office was, but had harsh words for the leadership.
"Actually I do. They have a very good elections staff there. Everybody that I have worked with there were very confident... They know their jobs inside and out. It's just unfortunate they have bad leadership."
23ABC's Tori Cooper asked St. George if she thought that some of the concerns people had expressed over the last two weeks about the county's readiness for the election and if that had led to her removal,
"I don't know. I don't think so. But it was the last time that I was interviewed was about two weeks before I was let go. So people can make up their own minds."
When pressed if she thought that her interview with 23ABC two weeks ago about elections concerns could have been the reason for her dismissal, St. George was adamant.
"It seemed to be a very comprehensive interview as far as I was concerned. If somebody else took it the wrong way, then I don't know. It's on them."
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