Sue Black calls her firing as parks director 'heartbreaking'

CREATED Aug. 21, 2012 - UPDATED: Aug. 21, 2012

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  • Tom Murray reports Video by 620wtmj.com

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  • Tom Murray reports Video by 620wtmj.com

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  • Sue Black. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MILWAUKEE- Recently fired Milwaukee County Parks Director Sue Black is responding to her termination.

Through a statement Tuesday, Black said, "I have great passion for this world-renowned park system...I find it unbelievable to have been unceremoniously bounced from a calling I cherish."

Black said she is heartbroken by her firing last Thursday, and called Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele's decision a "betrayal."

Black insists that she will seek justice for her firing.  She issued a statement over the weekend asking for her old job back, or to be compensated more for her firing.

Meanwhile, Abele has hired Jim Keegan as the interim parks director.

Governor Scott Walker praised Black on Tuesday, telling TODAY'S TMJ4, "She's continued to do, from everything I've seen, a great job."

Yet, TODAY'S TMJ4 notes that Walker publicly threatened Black's job in 2006, when he was county executive, insisting that she close a $2 million parks budget gap or he would find someone else.

Walker even had Black craft a resignation letter.  "There were some budgetary issues years ago, but she dealt with them," explained Walker.

Walker's successor, Abele, has yet to say why he abruptly fired Black last week.

"I don't believe it's good policy to talk about details of personnel moves," argued Abele.