Schundler 'heartbroken' over firing as state education commissioner
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITERS
Hours after being fired as state education commissioner, Bret Schundler defended himself Friday against any perception that he had lied to Governor Christie about a bungled application for $400 million in federal funds.
CARMINE GALASSO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Buy this photoBret Schundler in his Jersey City home on Friday, August 27, 2010, talking with reporters after being fired as education commissioner by Governor Christie.
"I didn't try to hide anything, I didn't try to mislead anybody," a shaken Schundler told reporters in his Jersey City home, describing himself as "heartbroken" that he'd lost his job only months after he got it — and just when he believed the state and nation were on the cusp of enacting major school reforms.
But Christie's office wasn't buying Schundler's version of events. The governor's spokesman immediately shot back, saying, "We regret Mr. Schundler continues to sully his own image by engaging in