To H. Jones, MSG (ret.): In response to your letter in last week’s Citizen that was headlined “Direct PAC types trample freedom,” we must point out several things that are factually contradictory to the points offered in your letter. I did try to call you to in order to respond personally to your letter, but could not find a H. Jones listed in PTC, so I sent you an e-mail instead.

Direct PAC would like to state very clearly that our organization stands for only one thing and that is shown on our Web site at www.directpac.org.

There is not one single element of control over Direct PAC by Harold Logsdon or Bob Lenox, nor is the reverse true.

Bob Lenox attended the first Direct PAC meetings, did not actually join and has not participated since then, almost three years ago. Neither he or we should ever be considered a “puppet” of anyone.

It is also important for you to know that contrary to the some of the statements made in the newspaper, mostly by Mayor Brown, Direct PAC is made up of a true cross-section of concerned PTC citizens.

We are not “greedy developers” and “power brokers” that meet in secret to control an entire city and its elected officials.

We are concerned citizens just like you, and our goal is to help elect individuals that are responsible, ethical, honest, and who will add integrity to the mayoral and City Council seats.

I know this is difficult to believe after all the nasty campaign rhetoric and the complete fabrications about Direct PAC’s activities before the election that were and are displayed in the out-of-control forum that Cal created on The Citizen’s Web site; but Direct PAC has done only three things this year and they are:

1. Direct PAC filed an ethics complaint against the mayor in June 2005 with the state Ethics Board. They have requested additional information, but not yet heard the case. They will possibly do so at their November meeting next week.

2. Direct PAC’s election-related activity was limited to the posting of what we think are the four most important issues facing the mayor and council in 2006. We posted them on our Web site, www.directpac.org (click on election issues), and then interviewed all the new candidates for office in person about those four issues.

3. Finally, we discussed which candidates to endorse and in the end decided on recommendations instead; that too is on the Web site. Direct PAC did not endorse Harold Logsdon, but we did recommended Mr. Logsdon and Phil Boswell as the two candidates for voter consideration.

Do those three things sound like we are “trampling freedom” or “bullying” anyone?

We are very big on freedom of speech and strongly encourage everyone to participate in the political process as a voter or candidate.

We also want citizens to participate in city government before and after elections by attending public meetings and understanding issues and speaking up and serving on committees when needed.

The demonization of Direct PAC, the linkage to the past mistakes of Development Authority members and the constant drumbeat about the “old guard” and the “power brokers” is something that was created out of whole cloth by the current mayor.

Simply put, there are no power brokers or old guard in PTC; we are simply too young a city for all that. These things exist only in the fertile imagination of our current mayor who creates problems and sometimes imaginary enemies, or straw men, and then charges in to save us all.

Fortunately, the general election results show very clearly that those that voted prefer Logsdon to the current mayor by a significant margin.

We can see that the overwhelming majority of the votes for Thompson, Tennant and Boswell that were anti-Brown votes last week will be pro-Logsdon votes on Dec. 6. And most certainly, Direct PAC will continue to support Col. (ret.) Logsdon USAR.

Yes, MSG. Jones, we do live in the greatest country in the world and probably the best city as well. We invite you to sit with us over a cup of coffee to talk about the future of our city. Give us a call or an e-mail if you’d like to get together. We’re always open to input from other people who truly care about Peachtree City.

Thank you for your service to our country.

Rick Schlosser
For the Executive Committee of Direct PAC
Peachtree City, Ga.