Oops, missed the Citizen Candidate Forum deadline...

Oops, we goofed and missed the deadline for the Citizen Candidate Forum. We felt that the Forum was very important, so we bought an ad (in the printed version of the Wednesday Citizen Newspaper). Since you can't see the ad on-line, Greg's Forum submission is posted below. Thanks for all the continued and growing support from the great citizens of Fayette County!

Issues that seem most important to our citizens now are the Sheriff/ Commissioners lawsuits and controlling growth.

For 2 years the Sheriff has alleged that I am trying to take all his money and run his department. Both are totally false but the team of Maxwell/Chapman must believe it. Mr. Maxwell says it is the “cornerstone” of his campaign. They are willing to give the Sheriff a free ride just to get elected. We have never gotten an accurate accounting of the Sheriff's spending and never will if they get elected. Our Board, after years of trying, continues to struggle to get total compliance with the law before we make national headlines as did Fulton County when $7 million came up missing from the Sheriff's office. This type of tragedy will never happen here if we insist on total compliance with federal, state and local laws.

Maxwell/Chapman place the blame for this controversy squarely on the Commissioners, but we have not broken any laws and we give a total accounting of all monies. If we could have solved this issue without litigation we would have and are still trying.

Although expensive, if the Commissioners can ultimately achieve the required accountability of the Sheriff’s spending, taxpayers should recoup the cost of the lawsuits in one year and have substantial annual savings thereafter!

The other issue is controlling growth. The current Commissioners have a great record of controlling growth and preserving our quality of life. We believe that following our Land Use Plan and enforcing our developmental regulations are critical.
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The Maxwell/Chapman team has criticized our controlled growth. Mr. Maxwell supports 3,000 homes on 800 acres (almost four to an acre in the unincorporated county near the hospital). Our Land Use Plan allows no more than one house per acre. If we make an exception for this development, we would be forced to allow developments of similar density throughout the county. At that point we could say goodbye to our fantastic quality of life!
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Mr. Chapman continuously advocates for more and more growth.
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Mr. Maxwell, the trial attorney, turns out to also be Mr. Maxwell, the developer. Secretary of State records and his initial disclosure reports tell quite a story. He owns 50% of C&E Development Corporation. He conveniently did not list this as a development corporation on his disclosure. He listed it as C&E Inc. He is its Secretary/Treasurer, is on its board of directors and took a $2,000 campaign donation from that company.
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He and his campaign treasurer are the Board of Directors of Autera Properties, Inc. He accepted a $2,000 donation from him. He failed to list Autera Properties on his disclosure.
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Mr. Maxwell owns 33.3% of 1893 Partners LLC which developed the property his law practice occupies. Nothing wrong with that but he accepted $2,000 from his partner, who is now developing an office complex in Fayetteville.
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The Secretary of State also lists Mr. Maxwell as the registered agent and/or organizer for several other development companies. While this is not unusual for attorneys, it does reflect his strong ties to the development community.
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Folks, there's nothing wrong with any of these activities or his partners. What is wrong is his failure to reveal his strong ties and membership in the development community.
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The Maxwell/Chapman team of a lawyer/developer and a mortgage banker will destroy our growth plans, our quality of life and return to the days when special interests ruled the day. Is this the “change” Mr. Maxwell is promising you?

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Submitted by Mrs Mike Pruitt on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 4:12am.

I have asked your husband to respond to some of my questions and he has ignored my requests.
WHICH COMMISSIONER WAS BEHIND CALLING KEVIN DUFFY OVER AN OLD INVOICE THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING, but was important enough to get printed in the AJC?
When I spoke with your husband, he admitted that it was one of the commissioners, but refused to take any action.
YOUR HUSBAND is the one who "authored" the Ethics Ordinance, and I believe YOUR HUSBAND has violated it. Some may think this is a bit trifle, but if Greg Dunn thought enough about Ethics to author the ordinance, he should be held "accountable" for it...

Capt. Mike Pruitt's wife

www.fayettecountyga.gov
Search: ethics ordinance

Submitted by Janet on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 10:21am.

My husband asked me to post this for him:

Mrs. Pruitt’s assertion that I admitted to her that one of our Commissioners gave any information to a reporter is absolutely false. I told her repeatedly I had no idea where the information came from and that if she needed to know, she should ask the reporter. Continuing to make disingenuous statements about the incident does not help her husband or this community. Mrs. Pruitt and I had an extended conversation in which she shared with me very sensitive information. I gave her my word I would not disclose any information she gave to me and I have not and will not. To have her repeatedly mischaracterize our conversation is nothing more than an attempt to discredit me. If she must make public statements about our conversation she should at least make them truthful.

When I re-read the comments attributed to her I find it hard to believe this concerned wife and mother would have written them. When I spoke with her, she seemed to be legitimately upset and very honest in her discussion with me. I hope someone isn’t using Mrs. Pruitt name for their own ends. I guess anything is possible with bloggers these days.

Submitted by Mrs Mike Pruitt on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 4:25pm.

Dear Greg and Janet,
Pertaining to your comments questioning my penmanship, “I find it hard to believe this concerned wife and mother would have written them”, I wasn’t sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.

The truth is I have been put in a very precarious situation because of your reckless conduct. You crossed the line when you involved me, thus putting my children and grandchildren at risk. And to comment on your above assertion, “Continuing to make disingenuous statements about the incident does not help her husband or this community”. My remarks represent an accurate and honest account of our conversation. I guess it is your word against mine? Well, I did learn a thing or two from my husband's 27 year's in law enforcement...

On the morning I called you, your first comments were accusing my husband of writing nasty & abusive statements about you on this site. During our conversation you admitted, “The average person wouldn’t have been able to find the INVOICE unless they knew exactly what they were looking for”, but assured me it wasn't you- I believe you. However, when I asked you to please find out who was responsible in order to prevent this from happening again, you replied, “I’m not going to go around and ask the other commissioners, because no one would admit to it anyway.” If I misrepresented what you meant by your statement, I apologize.

You could have and should have prevented my name from being printed in the AJC. Instead, you participated in a malicious attempt to once again discredit the Sheriff's Dept. All I wanted was an apology and the assurance that you would keep this from happening again. I cannot sit by and let this go unnoticed or un-punished. So, at this point I feel I have no other choice but to file an Ethics Complaint.

Capt. Mike Pruitt's wife

Submitted by Mrs Mike Pruitt on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 7:34am.

Try this information to view the Ethics Ordinance:

http://www.fayettecountyga.gov/information/ethicsord.htm

Submitted by doc on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 8:31am.

Having read the county ordinance you have referenced I believe your husband has a valid complaint. You need to have him go before a notary public and swear an affidavit stating the facts under oath. He should cite violations of Sec. 2-209 (4) using information coming to him/her confidentially in the performance of governmental duties as a means for making private profit; Their profit being an attempt to affect their personal campaigns buy trying to reflect a bad light on the Sheriff using confidential information.

Your husband should also cite Sec. 2-209 (8) which prohibits engaging in other conduct which is unbecoming to an official/employee or which constitutes a breach of public trust.

You are required by the ordinance to file the sworn complaint with the clerk of The Board of Commissioners. If I were you I would also send a copy of this sworn complaint to the newspapers to insure the complaint is handled in accordance with the law.

None of this can be done of course in time to affect the election but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. The person who leaked the information she be exposed and sanctioned so that they can be judged for it in any future election in which they may run.

There will be county employees who know who leaked the information. The ordinance is written so that an outside attorney will do the investigation and it should be successful.

Good luck.

Submitted by Sailon on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 11:37am.

Sounds like the Bush administration violating the law by phone tapping, bank data stolen, outing of CIA agents on the other side, etc., then wanting people hung for telling on them. That is like hanging the guy who turned in John Dillenger for being a snit. The ends do NOT justify the means!

Submitted by lifeinptc on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 6:44am.

I was unable to find the ethics ordinance based on the information provided by Mrs. Pruitt however I do remember the County passing an ethics ordinance. I can't find it to read it but I feel sure if it's worth a flip at all it should prohibit the leaking of County invoices which contain the name of undercover officers and their families.

Mrs. Pruitt you should call on Commissioner Horton or Frady to call for an ethics investigation into who leaked you and your husbands name to Kevin Duffy. I think it's going to turn up that Linda Wells and not Dunn actually did the leaking but whatever the outcome it needs to be done. Why have an ethics ordinance if it doesn't apply to the Commissioners?

WakeUp's picture
Submitted by WakeUp on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 9:53pm.

So Janet, after all the financial and forensic audits, what was the final outcome of all the waste in the Sheriff's department? Unless I misread your post, you indicate the county will save money by eliminating waste in the Sheriff's Department. State or restate some facts please. Posts fly by so fast on here, I am sure I missed the results of your fact finding witch hunts.


PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 8:41pm.

This is a repeat of post I made elsewhere dealing with some of these claims.

I am on the Secretary of State corporations page as I type.

http://www.sos.state.ga.us/corporations/

I search corporate officers for Eric Maxwell. I get one return.

THE LAW OFFICE OF ERIC K. MAXWELL, P.C.

I search Agents

I get:

Name Name Type
AUTERA PROPERTIES, INC. Current Name

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Profit Corporation - Domestic - Information
Control No.: K818275
Status: Active/Compliance

Entity Creation Date: 5/7/1998

Jurisdiction: GA
Principal Office Address: 1952 HIGHWAY 54 W
FAYETTEVILLE GA 30214-4775
Principal Mailing Address: No Address
Last Annual Registration Filed Date: 1/17/2006
Last Annual Registration Filed: 2006

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Registered Agent

Agent Name: ERIC MAXWELL PC
Office Address: 225 SOUTH FLYNN ST
FAYETTEVILLE GA 30214
Agent County: FAYETTE

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Officers

Title: CEO
Name: DR MATHEW T AUTERA
Address: 1952 HIGHWAY 54 W
FAYETTEVILLE GA 30214

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Maxwell is not an officer, but an agent. An agent can be a lawyer representing someone in a legal capacity. That does not make him a developer.

And when you look at the telephone book you find AUTERA HEALTH CENTER, not properties, listed.

Yep, it says Properties at State level, but Health Center at everything local at that address.

Google AUTERA PROPERTIES, INC and you get the Health Center, which most interestingly is found in a Real Estate listing as being for lease.

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizspace/atlanta/results/simple/?n=18&sale_lease=lease&use_type_id=1

As for C&E Development, again Maxwell is an agent, not a officer.

And, a quick phone book search came up dry. Which may not mean much, since it was quick.

Google also came up empty.

Developing what? Don't know.

That is as far as I went with this.

This whole thing from Dunn smells bad.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


Submitted by rhino on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 2:03pm.

I wish we could've gotten that into the paper edition. But of course it was set up such that we couldn't, since they knew their info was not legitimate. The Dones are nothing if not good street fighters (or bar room brawlers, if you prefer).

I guess we'll see how many they've fooled on Tuesday.

Submitted by Janet on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 9:53am.

Senour Reed (Reed Development Group, Inc., Sharpsburg) - $500 contribution http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?49040

John Barrow (Barrow & Hirsch Properties, Inc. and A-Barrows Construction) - $500 (Eric is also the registered agent for Barrows & Hirsch Properties, Inc.)
http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?1134428

Matt Autera (Autera Properties, Inc.) - $2,000 contribution (Eric is on the Board of the Director and his campaign treasurer is also on the Board of Directors of this development company) http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?1068410

Eric K. Maxwell (C & E Development, Inc.) - $2,000 contribution (Eric is 50% owner & on the Board of Directors of this development company) http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?58242

Michael Hoffrichter (1893 Partners, LLC) - $2,000 contribution (Eric is 33.3% owner of this development group) https://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?191350

Mr. Maxwell is also the resistered agent for some other development companies.

Submitted by Dr Mathew Autera on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 11:49am.

This is Dr Mathew Autera, my company Autera Properties ownes only one building, in which I practice, I am not a developer!!!!! Get it right! This is not a development company, nor is Mr Maxwell in business with me!!

Submitted by Eliza on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 2:18pm.

Given what I have seen here, Mr. Maxwell does NOT appear to be a developer. Being a company's legal agent does not make a lawyer a developer, or physician, or retailer, or what-have-you. I think the Dunn mailer that came today, stating that "Mr. Maxwell is a Developer" is shameful.

Submitted by Sailon on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 6:21pm.

I think what people are saying about that is that they THINK he would vote that way in order to grow the county. There is no way to know that, whether he is or isn't one. He either has the people of the county at heart or he doesn't.

Submitted by Dr Mathew Autera on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 9:32pm.

I know what some people are saying and they are wrong!!! Mr Maxwell has the people in our county in his heart he has lived here since 1972. He is not out for profit on any development anywhere.

As for the people listed in Janet's letter today there is one former contractor which is John Barrow, oh he is now retired and is in full time ministry and lives in Coweta County....Carefull on that one, you think we have a hot summer now try bashing that one it may get a lot marmer for you in the future!!!

True, Eric is 50% owner in C and E inc. With his good friend Costas. I have been fortunate enough to be invited to hunt with Costas and Eric on this 37 acre Coweta County property. Many of you know Costas and he is a computer programer not a developer..

As far as Mr Hofrichter, he is 33.3% partner in the ownership of the building in which Mr Maxwell, and he practices. They are not Law partners....So Mr Hofrichter is renovating the building next to his office making Fayetteville look better. Oh what a developer!!!

As far as all the other people listed not one of them has ever developed anything in Fayette County...Lets stay with the issues at hand and not put a spin on something that is not there nor true. How do I know this, they are all my personal friends and people who I hang out with on a regular basis.

Submitted by tonto707 on Sat, 07/15/2006 - 7:10am.

a check of their campaign contributions reports indicate that Dunn has taken money from known, no doubt about it developers, Hayes Development to wit. Of course Janet isn't about to tell you that.

Not only Hayes, a couple of others too, as well as bankers. Anyone can check these reports at the elections office, 8 to 5 daily, Monday through Friday.

But no nevermind, Dunn is Done, Wells is well done!

PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 7:24pm.

Dunn and Wells have said he is a developer and owns parts of development companies.

Not much room for 'might be' in those accusations.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 11:54am.

That fully is in agreement with what I posted concerning you.

And explains a lease ad. Leasing space in the building.

Now, Janet, do we get an admission you didn't know what you were talking about in your posts? Or didn't care if it served your purposes?

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


Submitted by Dr Mathew Autera on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 12:17pm.

Thanks PTC Guy I appreciate the support!!!

Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 12:15pm.

Doc & PTC Guy,

Janet doesn't have to admit to the truth for us little people to understand that the Dones have been less than truthful in this campaign. Dirty politics has been Peter Piper's signature on every campaign he has ever been involved in. And he ALWAYS waits to the last minute so that his opponents won't have the time to right the wrongful distortions he drives by and splatters all over the place.

A personal note to Janet. Your conduct is especially shameful. Act like a lady and be truthful. Not like some druken and desperate bar room brawler. Your revealing the truth that you guys truly have no class what so ever.

Wait a minute...I didn't want to talk about this race anymore.


Submitted by rhino on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 1:51pm.

I can't improve on that, so I'll just smile and nod. Smiling

PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 12:48pm.

But it never hurts to put a spot light on the fact they won't.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 11:10am.

Being the Agent does not make him a developer. It makes him a lawyer doing legal duties for them.

And maybe they donate because they like him and the work he does? Yeesh.

I have done service work for developers who like me. Does that make me a developer as well?

Stop trying to redefine what an Agent is.

And as shown before, in example, the Autera address now says Health Club and is also listed as being up for lease in a Real Estate listing.

Since when did employees of a Developer become a developers?

And the link on C & E. Here is the listing you gave as proof.

C & E DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Current Name

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Profit Corporation - Domestic - Information

Control No.: 0101395
Status: Active/Compliance

Entity Creation Date: 1/5/2001

Jurisdiction: GA
Principal Office Address: 135C BRANDYWINE BLVD
FAYETTEVILLE GA 30214-1588
Principal Mailing Address: No Address
Last Annual Registration Filed Date: 1/24/2006
Last Annual Registration Filed: 2006

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Registered Agent

Agent Name: ERIC K. MAXWELL
Office Address: 135 BRANDYWINE BLVD. STE. C
FAYETTEVILLE GA 056
Agent County: FAYETTE

No officers are listed. No owners are listed. What this company does is not listed. Where their holding are is not listed.

After all your other false statements, why should I take your word for it Maxwell is a developer intent on developing any property in Fayette?

Is not this joint ownership you are talking about constitute 37 acres in Coweta County, which Maxwell says he has no intention of developing?

And your other ownership claim as being a developer.

Name Name Type
1893 PARTNERS, LLC Current Name

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Limited Liability Company - Domestic - Information

Control No.: 0314087
Status: Active/Compliance

Entity Creation Date: 3/6/2003

Jurisdiction: GA
Principal Office Address: 225 S GLYNN ST
FAYETTEVILLE GA 30214
Principal Mailing Address: No Address
Last Annual Registration Filed Date: 1/17/2006
Last Annual Registration Filed: 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Registered Agent

Agent Name: MICHAEL J. HOFRICHTER
Office Address: 135 BRANDYWINE BLVD. #C
FAYETTEVILLE GA 30214
Agent County: FAYETTE

I don't see Maxwell, yet you offered this as proof.

Your playing the Agent thing up as if that makes him a corporate develope who will make money from land development. That is just flat wrong.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


Submitted by Southside on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 8:20pm.

You missed the deadline so Cal gives you the entire bottom half of the essay page as an add when all other adds are relegated to the inside pages? Janet would expect us to buy that but Cal? What the....?

You give your readers no credit for intelligence.

Submitted by 30YearResident on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 11:14am.

Janet,

Are you the one that went around stapling Maxwell signs to the tops of Chapman signs?

When Maxwell called Chapman about it within a week when it started and asked him to stop, Chapman said he wasn't doing it. Also, those that were helping him said they weren't doing it either. So it became a mystery.

So, now your running blogs using the "Maxwell/Chapman" team slogan. Was that part of your overall plan?

Just curious and asking questions. But if it were you (by "you", I mean your instructions) it's not working.

Look for a decent turnout on the primary and a 55% Maxwell, 45% Dunn result. It will be a significant defeat.

Submitted by Southside on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 7:24am.

There is, however, tons of evidence that your husband has been an expensive, disruptive annoyance to the day to day operation of this county's services. That's not good leadership.

A man who has served two terms as Commission Chairman should be able to run on his own merits rather than having to try and run his competition into the ground with lies. He's a lawyer, not a developer. I'm more curious about you and your husbands unexplained wealth than his 37 acres of land.

Submitted by tonto707 on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 6:07am.

have you explained Dunn's two $1,000 campaign contributions from developers? Doesn't that make him a developer himself, since Eric is by association a developer?

And Janet, by newspaper accounts, the sheriff's funds have been audited now at least 5 times, is Dunn hiring competent auditors?

Waiting for your responses.

Submitted by lwmythng on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 5:57am.

Eric and Sam are NOT a team. Sam has attached himself to Eric in a desperate attempt to win. Believe me, Eric is way too smart to team up with Sam. And the attempt to label Eric a developer? Give me a break. No intelligent person who actually looks at the facts will believe you, Janet! The DDT (Dunn Desperation Team) is at it again!

mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 5:14am.

All the more reason to vote for Eric. The 4 units to the acre near the hospital that your hubby and the other Janet refused to hear was Del Webb, the Sun City developers who have now started Sun City Peachtree in Griffin - thanks a lot - that should have been in Fayette County.

Researching Eric's involvement with registered corporations shows a desperation not seen in an incumbent since Steve Brown. One you mentioned, he's only the registered agent for incorporation - like every attorney in America shows up eventually, but I'll let him make his own response. Its going to hurt you (actually your hubby).

Now Chapman is another story, Don't know why you (and Cal in his poll) tie the 2 of them together, unless it is to discredit Eric unfairly. I think I answered my own question. Anyway, Sam is way over his head, does not have a chance with his family-financed campaign and will get less than 1000 votes. And he is not a mortgage broker, he is a bottom feeder preying on individuals with little or no credit for his predatory consumer loans - like daddy.
meow


Submitted by rmoc on Fri, 07/14/2006 - 11:41pm.

Guys give the commisioners a break...the cities have the edge on annexation based on the state constitution. Fayetteville could easily start high density down to Brooks if they tried because the counties have less input in the process. This is not because of the county commission but because the Georgia State constitution makes it easy for cities to annex neighboring properties like dominos....Hey Brooks could start allowing high rise condos if they choose......Chapman is a good man but dense..equestrian park in the least equestrian part of the county...my goodness....

PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Sat, 07/15/2006 - 11:07am.

The issue is what Dunn and Wells have done, not the cities.

Annexation has nothing to do with filing expensive and frivolous lawsuits to try and make power grabs. Or take money from the Sheriff.

Has nothing to do with lying, as they did against Maxwell.

Has nothing to do with acting like they accomplished thing that were actually done by legal requirements of the actions of cities.

A break? Not deserved.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


Submitted by Sailon on Wed, 07/12/2006 - 8:15am.

Chapman, a predatory lender like daddy? Why would one of those kind of guys want to run for public office? Sure to be discovered and disgraced! I doubt what you said. Banks are a gold mine right now without any crooks.

bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Tue, 07/11/2006 - 11:24pm.

“We have never gotten an accurate accounting of the Sheriff”

Try asking the United States Department of Justice. They’ll be glad to give it to you. Never mind, don’t ask, they already told you and the judge.

"Mr. Maxwell, the trial attorney, turns out to also be Mr. Maxwell, the developer."

He freely admits that he owns 37 archers of land that he hunts on.

Just how many houses does that add up to? Straw and mud houses don’t count.


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