Panelist Pick Prompts Fox To Skip Interview

Besieged State Schools Superintendent Anne Fox walked out on the taping of a television public affairs program on Wednesday because she objected to one of the panelists who has been chronicling the often-embarrassing missteps of her new administration.

KIVI-TV News Director Brink Chipman said Fox refused to tape the stations “Newsmakers” interview show after learning that Twin Falls TimesNews reporter Frank Lockwood would join two reporters on his staff in the questioning.

“I don’t want the superintendent telling me who can and cannot ask the questions,” Chipman said.

Lockwood has reported a number of the problems that have plagued the newly elected Republican since she took office Jan. 2, including the drunken driving arrest of her now-fired chief of staff and former campaign manager Terry Hawes and the misrepresentations of the background of her fired school design chief, Bill Stanley.

Fox declined to personally discuss the incident, but in a statement issued late Wednesday she said there was an agreement that the interviewers from outside KIVI would be reporters from The Idaho Statesman and the Idaho Press Tribune.

But Chipman said there was no agreement, no commitment made to Fox other than the panel would include outside reporters. He said Fox specifically wanted to exclude Statesman columnist Dan Popkey, who recently suggested that Fox resign. In that same column, Popkey quoted Fox as saying she feared for her life from a man wearing leather at the Jan. 7 inaugural ball at the Capitol. Chipman said he had no intention of including any columnist on the panel.

Fox, who has also been subjected to criticism for changing positions on some key issues and firing top personnel after taking over the Education Department, also claimed that Lockwood had been “rude, hostile, discourteous and interrupted my work and conversations with others - repeatedly.”

Lockwood, who had the full support of Times-News Managing Editor Clark Walworth, said he has never dealt inappropriately with Fox. He cited an incident on Monday when he asked to speak with her once she was finished speaking with a legislator only to be told “you may be waiting until midnight.”

“I’m saddened that Dr. Fox is refusing to answer legitimate questions about her department,” Lockwood said. “I think this has less to do with etiquette than with questions that have been raised by our paper.”

Fox was at the center of legislative debate on Wednesday when senators from both parties complained that her office had been unable to produce detailed information about the impact of the proposals state aid package for public schools as past superintendents have done.

The only information available on the bill’s impact was provided to lawmakers and school districts by the teachers union and legislative budget analysts.

Fox had earlier fired the department expert on the state aid program, and the No. 2 person there quit last Friday. The No. 3 person is staying on, and Fox is denying statements from Republican Lt. Gov. Butch Otter that turning the state aid program over to a private firm is being considered.