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Sunday, June 5, 2011

Is Michelle Rhee Looking to Veer Left by Hiring DNC's Hari Sevugan? | Sunshine State News

Is Michelle Rhee Looking to Veer Left by Hiring DNC's Hari Sevugan? | Sunshine State News

Is Michelle Rhee Looking to Veer Left by Hiring DNC's Hari Sevugan?


Hari Sevugan, national spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, has accepted a top position at Students First, Michelle Rhee's Washington, D.C.-based, high-profile education advocacy group. Washington insiders say Sevugan is making the move to strengthen his credentials on education policy.

Six months ago, then Gov.-elect Rick Scott hired Rhee to serve as a key player on his 18-member education transition team. Rhee was a prominent national advocate for the school reform agenda involving closing failing schools, linking teacher pay to student standardized test scores and other measures.

Sevugan, 36, is a lawyer and veteran political operative who also taught for two years in an Upper