Vote urged for Benedict's 'class and dedication to service'

Editor:

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Ben Harbin's campaign literature states the following "budget highlights": "The House added $1.2 million for Columbia County Schools that was cut by the Governor," and "$10,000 to assist in the purchase of special needs playground equipment at Blue Ridge Elementary."

I watched Harbin and Lee Benedict on Comcast Connect Live. When Benedict mentioned the cut, Harbin said "that's not true." His own literature says otherwise, so something is not true. As a 14-year veteran of the House, and someone who allegedly has a lot of power and influence, why could Harbin not get the $1.2 million restored? Probably because he has an ongoing feud with the governor. Since Georgia's budget has gone from $16 billion to $21.1 billion in five years, Sonny Perdue apparently isn't vetoing much of anything outside of Columbia County.

As for the $10,000 for Blue Ridge Elementary, if it is true, that's good, but Lee Benedict's wife has raised more than $3,000 for the same project, with more grant money in the works. In fact, at the end of this past school year, Sam's Club made a $1,000 check presentation during an assembly at Blue Ridge. The woman from Sam's said, "Mrs. Benedict, this check's for you" in recognition of her efforts. The Benedicts never boasted about this, and Lee Benedict never made reference to it during his campaign. That's class and dedication to service. Let's all vote for Lee Benedict for House District 118 on Tuesday.

John C. Gleason

Evans