Adams Names Exiled Former Aide Gov. Paterson to City Board of Education

The new mayor appointed to the city’s education board is a former assistant governor who was fired after the state deemed him “immature and irresponsible” and accused him of perjury in an inspector general’s investigation, Daily News has learned.

On Thursday, Mayor Adams appointed Khary Edwards, head of corporate relations for cannabis operator Ayr Wellness, along with five other members to the Education Policy Group. The council serves as the governing body of the city’s public school system and approves its contracts.

Hari Edwards

Edwards, then an aide to Governor David Paterson, was fired in 2009 after it was found that he “did not give a truthful statement” under oath about his contacts with the State Liquor Authority, according to media reports at the time. His report was part of an investigation into whether the chairman of the government was pressured to renew liquor licenses for posh Cipriani restaurateurs who pled guilty to tax evasion.

“The inspector general believes that Edwards is unsuitable for the job as representative of the governor’s office and recommends that he be fired,” Inspector General Joseph Fish said in a report obtained by the Times Union.

Edwards’ boss, Carl Andrews, resigned pending the completion of the IG investigation, and Edwards was rehired – with a promotion – later that year by State Senate Democrats.

A spokeswoman for Adams defended Edwards’ appointment and called him a “dedicated public servant” who is “a caring parent of three.”

“[Edwards] has continued to demonstrate his commitment to New Yorkers since these allegations surfaced over a decade ago,” she said, adding that he has “great experience serving his community,” including serving as a senior executive at Brookdale University Hospital and co-founded the nonprofit One Brooklyn Health.

The mother of a new panelist died tragically last summer after the man she was living with allegedly brutally assaulted her in their home.

Edwards, who ran an unsuccessful campaign to replace Adams as Brooklyn borough president in 2021, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. But after an earlier version of this story was posted online, Edwards went to Twitter criticize him.

“I have worked hard and raised wonderful children, and yet you are not giving me all of my community work or all of the lives I have touched, but to discredit my name. Why didn’t you talk about it instead,” he tweeted.

Adams has already caused controversy over his appointments to the Education Policy Group.

Last March, the mayor nominated Staten Island pastor Kathleen Barrett Lane to the commission, but withdrew the nomination within hours after the News reported she had a history of anti-gay rhetoric, including writing a book in which she equated homosexuality. to pedophilia.

Adams’s election on Thursday increased his number of commission appointees, a new state provision that expands the mayor’s control over the city’s schools.

The mayor also chose Phoebe-Seyde Arnold, director of public relations for Columbia University; Lilly Chan, public school teacher with two English learners; Anita Garcia, retired director of Brooklyn; Anthony Giordano, head of commercial and marketing firm; and Michelle Joseph, parent and former Associate Principal.

“Parent and community engagement is an important component of our overall vision for education in New York,” said Adams, “and that’s why we’re excited to launch what we know will be an effective and rewarding partnership with the Education Group.” Members of the policy announced today.”

The group has yet to fill the vacant position of Staten Island Parent Representative elected as the President of the Local Board of Education.

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