Cal, your opinion column on April 26, 2006, quotes extensively from my recent letter to the editor. In the letter I asked you several questions about your apparent failure to investigate and report accurately on the ongoing litigation between the commissioners and the sheriff. You answered none of them. Rather, you quoted me out of context and tried, once again, to make the commissioners look foolish and worse, like lawbreakers.

We now have two superior court decisions which found the sheriff in violation of state law. What will it take to make your newspaper report the facts and their impact on our taxpayers? You know the commissioners have not violated any laws. Why do you seem so determined to make our citizens believe we might have?

Your Open Records request for our attorney’s work-product to be used in litigation is a waste of time and taxpayers’ money. You know Georgia Law O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 (e) (1) and (2) exempts it from release. Even common sense should tell you that no one would release attorney work-product prior to trial. You, nor any of your readers, would release it until after trial. You have never been denied any information to which you are entitled. Why won’t you ask the sheriff or us for the available documents which clarify what caused these problems?

You’re also trying to convince your readers that anytime commissioners vote in executive session we are breaking the law. You know that Georgia law allows us to deal with three issues in executive session, i.e., personnel, real estate acquisition, and litigation. You also know that GA law, O.C.G.A. 50-14-3 prohibits us from voting in executive session only on personnel matters. We have never violated these restrictions. Why don’t you state the truth, i.e., that you simply don’t like the law?

For you to accuse Vice-Chairman Linda Wells of “leaking” information “from the hidden audit” is unforgivable. You have no reason to believe the issues she spoke of were in any way related to any audit. Linda is a person of total integrity. In fact, the information she shared at the meeting is information that is available in the county’s records. These are available to you and the general public as well.

Linda is honest, hard working, intelligent and extraordinarily dedicated to good government. I believe you know that.

This type of character assassination just to help make your case against the commissioners is a disservice to every citizen of Fayette County. She deserves a public apology.

The issues Linda discussed are among the countless violations of law we are dealing with. Had you been seriously engaged in investigating and reporting on the ongoing litigation you would know that this litigation addresses all the purchases made by the sheriff’s office, not just the drug seizure funds. The purchases made with drug seizure funds certainly complicate these issues but are only a very small part of the violation of state law and the waste of taxpayers’ money. The judge understands and has ruled on that.

It’s time for you to begin objective reporting on this litigation. As I’ve stated before, it is neither frivolous nor insignificant. Cal, I’ll say it again. It’s time for you to inform the public. They need to get the facts from your newspaper, not just opinions.

Greg Dunn, chairman
Fayette County Board of Commissioners
Fayetteville, Ga.