Raves, Rants & Roses

REPLY: Ms. Sharon Guthrie's letter has to be one of the most vitriolic responses to a legitimate complaint I have ever seen. I did not realize we lived in a totalitarian state and that decisions made by "The Party" were not open to discussion, and that exercising our first amendment rights were "sour grapes."

Ms. Guthrie cannot find in any of the letters, the press release or the television interviews done by me where we impugned the character or cast aspersions on Mr. Andy Dunklin. I ask that Ms. Guthrie please make public anything we said that could be construed as libel that can be found in open or personal correspondence.

Furthermore, we never said that Mr. Dunklin was fired from any job; we said, and still stand by our position, that he is not qualified for the office. Numerous letters from other law enforcement agencies and a background in drug interdiction, while commendable, does not make one qualified for the unique duties of the constable's office.

Mr. Potter and Mr. Thoene both had letters of recommendation, signed petitions and many years of law enforcement experience; and in the case of Mr. Potter, many years' experience in the constable's office. Both were supported in the precinct they would have been serving.

Ms. Guthrie labors under the false impression that we, the voters, are answerable to the party and its decisions, Ms. Guthrie and those who are elected precinct chairs are answerable to the people, not the other way around.

Mr. Dunklin has not been subjected to any personal attacks. I am immensely grateful to him for placing his life on the line and I am not being sarcastic. However, my dad was a law enforcement official who placed his life on the line for the people of Precinct 2; yet, it is okay to drag his memory and the excellent job he did into the arena of political maneuvering of those who want to tell the people what they will be happy with and "do not question our decision."

The Republican Party managed to get themselves voted out of the majority in Congress by not following the will of the people and, instead, following their own agenda. It looks like the disease of treating the voters as peons has filtered down to the county level, at least in Smith County.

Greg Creath
Tyler