The president of the Richmond Crusade for Voters resigned tonight after members of the group expressed outrage over his testimony to the House of Delegates Education Committee on behalf of charter schools.
Antione Green, the black voter organization's head since November 2006, is the CEO of Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, which in July is slated to become Richmond's first charter school and the first charter elementary school in the state.
When asked by a delegate during his March 1 testimony if he was representing the Crusade, Green said yes.
Last week, he sent an e-mail to organization members saying: "I apologize for the confusion this may have caused. It was not my intention to misrepresent you -- the Crusade members -- and create confusion, where none was needed."
Tonight, Green said his slip gave members of the organization opposed to charter schools fuel to mobilize against him during a meeting at the Military Retirees Club. The charter school effort of Gov. Bob McDonnell drew intense opposition from the General Assembly's Legislative Black Caucus.
"I had to make the choice whether I was going to continue as president of the Crusade for Voters or as chief executive officer of Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts. And it was very clear I'd have to make that decision tonight," Green said.
Roger Bullock is the organization's new president.
Contact Michael Paul Williams at (804) 649-6815 or mwilliams@timesdispatch.com.
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