Discovery Follows Merrifield’s Resignation for Anti-Charter School Tirade
Face the State Staff Report
In an ironic twist, Ginger Spencer, the ex-wife of the state legislator forced to resign this month for his anti-charter school comments, works as a kindergarten teacher at a popular Colorado Springs’ public charter school.
Merrifield came under heavy fire earlier this month when a Face The State investigation publicly released an e-mail he sent to state Sen. Sue Windels, D-Arvada. In the email, Merrifield vented freely, saying charter school supporters deserve “a special place in Hell.” The email exchange, covered by state and national media, resulted in Merrifield stepping down from his post as chair of the House Education Committee. Windels, chair of the Senate Education Committee, has also come under fire. Two of her legislative efforts to weaken existing charter school statutes have been killed this month.
According to the Globe Charter School Web site, Spencer is listed as a kindergarten teacher.
Spencer played a controversial role in Merrifield’s 2004 re-election bid for his House District 18 after she was caught on video taking down dozens of campaign signs of her husband’s opponent, Republican Kent Lambert. News stations across the state ran footage of Spencer taking down about 12 signs. The signs were posted in common areas of Merrifield’s town home complex.
According to Colorado Springs Gazette article that covered the incident at the time, Merrifield defended Spencer’s actions, saying the signs were removed because they did not comply with local sign-posting rules. He told a Gazette reporter that the dispute represented represents "the pettiness and depths of desperation the Republicans are reaching to defeat me."
According to court records, Merrifield and Spencer’s divorce was officially decreed on Sept. 5, 2006.