Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
July 9, 2025
06:45 AM CDT
As a candidate for Governor of Minnesota, I am appalled and deeply troubled by the actions of Wilson Tindi, a convicted sex offender and Kenyan national who was inexplicably employed by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) until June 27, 2025, earning a taxpayer-funded salary of approximately $145,000 annually. His presence in a role overseeing educational accountability—despite a 2016 conviction for criminal sexual conduct and an immigration judge’s removal order—represents a shocking betrayal of public trust and a direct threat to the safety of our children and communities. I unequivocally condemn Tindi’s behavior and call for a full investigation into how such an individual was allowed anywhere near our education system.
However, my condemnation of Tindi pales in comparison to the outrage I feel toward Governor Tim Walz and the top ten individuals responsible for the moral, ethical, and intellectual decay that has rotted the MDE to its core over the past decade. This is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a systemic failure under Walz’s leadership and the stewardship of those he and his predecessors appointed. The evidence is clear: the MDE’s failure to conduct background checks on Tindi, its inability to act on early warnings in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scandal, and its reactive rather than proactive governance reveal a pattern of negligence, incompetence, and moral bankruptcy.
I hold the following individuals accountable for shaping this decaying culture:
1. Brenda Cassellius (Commissioner, 2016–2020) – Appointed by Governor Mark Dayton, she set the stage for lax oversight during the Feeding Our Future program’s inception.
2. Heather Mueller (Commissioner, 2021–2023) – Under her watch, the Feeding Our Future scandal escalated, exposing systemic rot.
3. Willie Jett (Commissioner, 2023–Present) – Current leader who failed to address Tindi’s hiring until public outcry forced action.
4. Judy Randall (Legislative Auditor, 2013–Present) – Her audits exposed MDE failures but highlight leadership’s refusal to reform.
5. Katherine Theisen (Special Reviews Director, Active 2024) – Her 2024 report on Feeding Our Future underscored ongoing neglect.
6. Mark Dayton (Governor, 2011–2019) – Appointed Cassellius, laying the foundation for moral lapses like Tindi’s 2016 case.
7. Tim Walz (Governor, 2019–Present) – Appointed Mueller and Jett, and his sanctuary policies enabled Tindi’s employment.
8. John Curry (Deputy Commissioner, 2015–2019) – Likely oversaw operations during early systemic failures.
9. Nancy Alexander (Deputy Commissioner, 2020–2023) – Managed operations during peak scandals and Tindi’s tenure.
10. Unnamed HR Director (Active 2016–2025) – Responsible for hiring lapses that allowed Tindi’s appointment.
These individuals, through their leadership roles, have perpetuated a pattern of intellectual decay—failing to implement robust vetting or risk assessment; ethical decay—breaching public trust with inadequate oversight; and moral decay—prioritizing political agendas over the safety of Minnesotans. Governor Walz, in particular, bears the heaviest responsibility, having appointed commissioners who failed to reform a broken system and championed policies that critics argue shielded individuals like Tindi from scrutiny. His silence on this crisis is deafening and unacceptable.
This decay is not merely a series of mistakes but a deliberate culture of complacency and cover-up. The MDE’s reactive implementation of mandatory background checks only after the Tindi scandal broke [Source: alphanews.org, 2025-07-08] and the Legislative Auditor’s 2024 findings of “inadequate oversight” [Source: www.audacy.com, 2024-06-13] confirm a decade-long trajectory of failure. As Governor, I will not tolerate this. I call on whistleblowers within the MDE—employees who have witnessed these lapses firsthand—to step forward with evidence of misconduct, mismanagement, or suppressed reports. Your courage will be the key to exposing the full extent of this decay.
To those whistleblowers, I offer my unwavering support. Under my administration, you will have legal protection, a safe channel to report, and my personal assurance that I will have your back. No retaliation will be tolerated, and your identities will be safeguarded to the fullest extent of the law. Together, we can dismantle this corrupt culture, hold the guilty accountable, and rebuild an education system that prioritizes integrity, safety, and excellence for every Minnesotan child.
Minnesota deserves better. I pledge to lead that change.
Sincerely,
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
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