Former commissioner used 'fear mongering' to criticize challenger

Editor:

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When I read the July 7 letter to the editor from Tom Mercer, I couldn't believe what I was reading. I couldn't just sit back and watch another election go by whereby the general public is being taken advantage of by use of smoke and mirrors. What a terrible strategy to win an election -fear mongering. Ron Cross should be ashamed of someone supporting his campaign going this low.

Nowhere that I have found has Brett McGuire stated that the division directors be terminated. This is a scare tactic being thrown around by Mercer to rally county employees' support for Cross and make others in the community feel "bad" that if they vote for McGuire that some of the county employees will lose their jobs -which is untrue. Remember, three county commissioners would have to vote to remove a position, so no matter what the rumor mill turns up, McGuire wouldn't have the authority.

One thing is for certain: No matter who wins this election, every citizen should be pushing the winner to accept the role and responsibility of looking at the salary of those specific positions Mercer so valiantly defends. We should be looking at the salary of these employees making more than $90,000 a year. We have county directors working only four days a week making $100,000 a year -something isn't right with this picture.

This is not anything personal, but let's just use someone to whom Mr. Mercer referred -say, Pam Tucker.

I'm certain she is a nice person and very popular, but what is it that she does and/or is responsible for that warrants that she makes plus $102,000 a year? The deputy director (the person in charge when she is out) makes half that amount $51,775. If an emergency occurs in the county and Tucker is away and can't get back, the emergency would be handled by someone making $51,775; and if she was in town it would be at a cost of $102,000, or double? What skills are being brought to the table that warrant double the salary? If the emergency occurs and the deputy director is in charge, what skills are we missing since he makes half of what Tucker makes? ...

The salaries of all division directors should be subject to review based on what the job position is and what it requires. It should not be based on how long the person has worked for the county or how much they are liked!

Furthermore, if Mercer wants to throw around connections to developers, he needs to look no further than Cross's backyard. Anyone willing to come to my house can read e-mail after e-mail and review the documents I have as to the relationships that exists between Cross and the "family" of development businesses that have demolished this county with their mentality regarding development of "I don't have to follow the rules, I'll just ask for forgiveness not permission." I have even had a county employee specifically tell me he couldn't give a citation without first calling Cross because the "developer" and Cross are so close.

What this county needs is a leader that will work for the "people" of this county, not select groups of developers. I say it is time that we ask Cross to step aside for the future of our county. Everyone take the time to cast your ballot in this very important election. Let your voice be heard.

Angela Mathews

Evans