I am writing to respond to the letter last week that attacked Senator Rick Price on some specific issues. Rick has said that he welcomes any and all discussions concerning policies, voting records, issues and philosophy. This applies to discussions that are valid, honest and genuine. He won't become involved in charges and countercharges when the attack is false, misleading or personal. We don't think that the voters are interested in that kind of spectacle. The letter in last week's Citizen fits into the latter category. So, the job of replying to the letter falls to me.

For those who don't know me, I am Rick Price's campaign manager. I obviously have a personal bias. So, I ask the reader to please go and check for yourself on any assertions that I make. I think I have the reputation of being politically fair and honest. I will try to lay out the facts and let you make up your own mind.

The letter from last week looks like it makes sense if you don't know the whole truth. But, there are several problems with it.

First, the ARC issue. Instead of the claim that Price “urged and supported” Fayette's entry into the ARC, the truth is different. In fact, the commissioner who made the motion to reaffirm the resolution to join the ARC, and voted for it, is another of the candidates challenging Rick this year.

When the final vote occurred, to reaffirm the resolution, the result was 4-0-1 on June 6, 1990. Price was the only commissioner who did not vote for it! He abstained because, even back then, he began to question the wisdom of the move and wasn't able to get satisfactory answers to his questions about the change. All this is in the minutes, which are public record, and would have been easy to check. Please check it yourself.

Next, there are the Georgia Regional Transportation Act (GRTA) and the education bill. The letter writer has said the same thing before and he has been corrected before. Please check the record yourself. On final passage, March 23, 1999, Price voted against the GRTA bill. On final passage, March 16, 2000, Price voted against the education bill. As I said, please check the record; it's clear and plain. Price voted no on both bills.

When the governor's office and both houses of the legislature are controlled by Democrats, it takes hard work and risks to try to improve on what the governor wants to do. Rick stays in there and fights it out for us. As a result of his and others efforts, both pieces of legislation are better than the original bills would have been.

Trust and honesty are needed in our personal life, in business and in politics. We are finishing up eight years of Clinton's assault on public trust. The writer of the letter from last week may be too young to remember when we had a president that we could believe and trust. My hope is that the next election will bring us a president who will set an example for young people to learn that trust and honesty are key foundations of our system of government.

I hope you will consider all arguments in all campaigns this year with an open mind. But, I hope you will be wary of half-truths and distortions and falsehoods. Your chances of being well represented on the county commission, on the school board and in the legislature depend on that. Look at the record; Rick Price is proud of his and believes you will be, too.

Peter Pfeifer

Peachtree City

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