On Wednesday, February 20, State Representative Ernest Hewett made an offensive and sexually harassing remark to a 17 year-old intern during a committee hearing. The intern had been explaining to the committee that her experience helped her to conquer her shyness and also her fear of snakes:
"I am usually a very shy person, and now I am more outgoing," she told the committee. "I was able to teach those children about certain things like snakes that we have and the turtles that we have. ... I want to do something toward that, working with children when I get older."
According to an audiotape of the hearing, Hewett said: "If you're bashful I got a snake sitting under my desk here."
Representative Hewett’s offensive remark was a disgrace and an embarrassment. The fact that it was made to a 17 year-old intern visiting the State Capitol to attend a public hearing sends an absolutely atrocious message.
Therefore, by signing below, I join in calling on State Representative Ernest Hewett to resign following his wildly offensive comment made to the young girl at the State Capitol.