Is HD 11 Republican Sheri Treadwell guilty of résumé inflation?

Sheri Treadwell has been endorsed by the Northeast Florida Builders Association in her bid for the House District 11 seat

FloridaPolitics.com has learned that House District 11 Republican Sheri Treadwell has changed language on her website recently, downplaying previous claims about being a direct appointee of George W. Bush.

The Before and After, as in the old diet ads, presents a striking contrast.

Before: Treadwell claimed that she was “appointed by the President to several positions in the Commerce Department,” in which capacity she was “on the front lines of executing pro-business policies.”

After: she “served the President in several positions as an appointee in the U.S. Department of Commerce.”

Is there a material difference in the claims? Arguably, yes.

The best source of information about Treadwell’s employment: the 2008 version of the United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, commonly referred to as the “Plum Book.”

There are designations for presidential appointments, both with and without Senate confirmation. However, Treadwell’s appointment as a Confidential Assistant, under her maiden name of Sheri Valera, falls under a different category: a Schedule C excepted appointment.

There is no record of a direct presidential appointment on the White House archive of Bush Administration nominations.

Treadwell asserts that it is, in fact, a distinction without a difference.

“My website is true. I never claimed to be a Senate-confirmed Presidential Appointee, but I was a political appointee through the Office of Presidential Personnel and served at the pleasure of the President. It was an honor to serve with and under fellow conservatives, and that experience has uniquely prepared me to focus on strengthening Florida for our families by reducing taxes, creating job opportunities and improving our schools,” Treadwell said.

As corroboration, Treadwell provided a copy of a letter from President Bush, thanking her for her service.

As the HD 11 race heats up, a reasonable expectation is more close readings of campaign claims on all sides.