 |
|
 |
|
|||
 |
Setting the Record Straight
14 comment(s)
Originally Published Jun 18, 2008, 10:55pm
(Updated Jun 18, 2008, 10:55pm)
By R. Gray Smith, Former Chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party
It seems that one of the members of my former Executive Committee, Anna McManus, has attempted to cast doubt on the integrity of Chris Goldston and the motivations of my leadership as former chairman of the local party. Personally, I was raised to keep family squabbles at the kitchen table and not air them to the world. But since Mrs. McManus has chosen to go this path, I cannot allow her allegations to go unanswered
I served as Chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party from 2005 to 2007. Serving with me on my Executive Committee were Anna McManus, Mike Busse, Parkey Thompson (who position was later filled by Brant Meadows), Lyn Ward, and Chris Goldston. It soon became apparent that the pro-abortion members of the EC, Anna McManus and Lyn Ward, had differing opinions with the rest of us on social conservative issues. It did create some friction from time to time, but nothing that I felt was unmanageable. It pains me now to see how this fundamental difference of opinion is coloring her memories of the past.
Let me set the record straight on a number of issues that she raised. When Chris Goldston told me he was writing an article about the tax assessment claims of a member of the Lanier Golf Club group, he wanted to get my recollections of the events leading up to our 2006 resolution supporting their efforts. Personally, I appreciated that he would attempt to be thorough in his reporting of the facts. He remembered talking to Mike Busse and other members of the Executive Committee about the issue at the time, but could not recall who had the original idea. I told him that Mike Busse had brought it up in a conversation with me. I liked Mike’s initiative and ran with it. Mrs. McManus can argue that point all she wants, but her argument is with me and not Chris Goldston who was only stating what I told him to be true.
She claims that we only adopted the resolution to “pander” to the Lanier Golf Club residents to gain their support for an upcoming chairman’s race. This is simply not true. We believed that an injustice had been done, and as conservatives, it was our responsibility to highlight that injustice and join our support for a proper remedy. Is it true that supporting these groups might have built us some political capital? Maybe, but it was not the end goal. In my life, I have found that doing the right thing usually has other benefits, as it may have in this case. For her to accuse me and the rest of my Executive Committee of making decisions based solely on political calculations is outrageous and an insult to my integrity that I will not stand for.
It is true that the ethics complaint was dismissed (and O.J. Simpson was also found not guilty), but it doesn’t mean that it was the right decision. I had numerous conversations with the lead investigator right up to the hearing in which he indicated that our complaint was clearly justified. But the State Ethics Commission is heavily influenced by the development community, which has ties to Brian Tam.
Mr. Tam did not use the campaign funds given by the party to advance his own campaign or that of another specific candidate as the law prescribes, but instead used it for a hit piece on one particular candidate. That issue was the basis of our complaint – which Anna voted to support. It is a separate issue from the chaplain’s calls made for the party - which Mrs. McManus also supported, even though Anna is trying to compare the two. The issues are apples and oranges.
I was the first and only chairman in the local party’s history to appoint a party chaplain. I felt that this was an important role that could provide a spiritual center to our party. Anna expressed to me her discomfort with my decision. I suspect this is what lies at the root of her charge.
What Chris Goldston did not report is that the party also asked for a refund of a contribution it had previously given Brian Tam. While publicly saying he would return the contribution, Brian Tam never returned a dime of the $2,000.
The irony is that in every single one of these issues – the resolutions, the ethics complaint, the request for a return of contribution, and the party chaplain’s phone calls – Anna cast her vote in favor. For her to now somehow re-invent herself as a whistleblower grieves me at a personal level.
Anna and I were friends for years before we served together on the Executive Committee. However, she often had a hard time adjusting to the majority I put together. Like me, the majority of the EC embraced Ronald Reagan’s vision of “bold colors” and rejected “pale pastels.” I, along with the majority of our EC, embraced the pro-life and socially conservative position of our party. We fought tooth and nail to hold our elected officials accountable, which often resulted in us having to take bold, confrontational stands. Try as she might, I do not think Anna was ever really able to embrace those bold colors. It saddens me to see that her experience has now fractured her relationships with those that worked so hard for the conservative cause.
Allow me to conclude by saying that Chris Goldston, Mike Busse, Parkey Thompson, and Brant Meadows are people of utmost integrity. I am proud to have served with such bright minds and principled conservatives. I view any attack on their integrity as a direct attack on me.
R. Gray Smith, Former Chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party
Click HERE for more info...
Be sure to tune in to our TV show, Fridays at noon on Comcast channel 25
More from Opinion
Would you like information on how to build a profitable online business like this one? Visit www.promoxie.com
Comments
14 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.
Never had I been as proud of my chosen party as when Gary Smith was at the helm. I had previously and unrelentingly called for real guts from a Party that factually had none. In fact, several of my articles at that time highly praised the fine work coming forth from a restructured Party that meant business and did that business the old fashioned way...honorably and with passion.
Unfortunately memories are specific to the one doing the recalling and it pains me greatly to see any kind of disparagement between those whom I know are well above such senselessness. But that said; there is that need to get it all out so the facts can be determined as they actually happened. To do that often hurts the end result that we all want and that is good government. However, good government does not mean that good friends have to become worst enemies either. Me thinks that political favorites tend to sway out of kilter those freely wrought comments that lend themselves to that of no good.
If either of us has political favorites then so be it but cutting each others throats in the process of propelling one above the other is not the way to be successful in furthering our ultimate goal of honest government. I still see some of that passion rushing to the surface right now but this might be a good time to chill for the best outcome of all. Both sides have now voiced how they feel on this particular issue so continuing to slash at each other should be seen as detrimental to the ultimate cause without any good coming from it.
Gray, Chris, and Anna have worked hard to push our Party forward so it seems to me some things are better left unsaid. My two cents worth.
I can't stop you if you want to misrepresent my feelings on the topic of abortion, or try to judge my level of commitment to the values espoused by a party for which I have worked for most of my life.
The irony of your false claim that I am "pro-abortion" is that one of us has actually given birth to another human being, and one of us has not. I will let the readers figure that one out for themselves.
I see your memory of other events is as poor as Mr. Goldston's.
Perhaps you should review the minutes of the executive committee meetings, which will clearly indicate that I most certainly did NOT vote in favor of the ethics complaint against Brian Tam.
These minutes would be easily obtained by contacting the (then) recording secretary of the Republican Party, Mrs. Lyn Ward.
My post was intended to call Chris Goldston on his falsehoods; to hold him accountable, if you will, not unlike what you claim conservatives are supposed to do. It was never intended as a personal attack on you, and I regret that you take it as such.
I do regret that you take my words as an attack on your integrity, as I neither mentioned your name in my post, nor did I intend to attack you. But I have no regrets about telling the truth. I have always believed that one can never go wrong by sticking to the truth, and the truth is what I have told.
I am not running for any office, and I am retired from working for any political party. I don't need political capital, as you call it. There is absolutely no reason for me to make this up. I have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
You are right, we were very good friends for a number of years, and I want you to understand that I wouldn't throw a years-old friendship out the window for something that wasn't true.
I stand by my statements, and the people can decide whom they want to believe.
I will not continue this dialogue with you on this forum.
Anna McManus
This discussion started concerning the recent increases in property assessments which I believe can not be justified during a period of declining property values. It is not personal or even political to simply point out that Mr Busse is the Chairman of the Board of Tax Assessors. It's simply a fact and as the Chairman he is accountable for the actions of that Board. Mr Busse is a fine man. He has given much time and energy for the betterment of our county. As a resident of the Lanier Golf Course area I would like to personally thank him for any efforts he made to support our community. The issue here, however, is increased property assessments resulting in higher taxes during a period of declining property values. It can not be justified.
Mr. Quinn,
To make the statement that Mr. Busse as Chairman of the Board of Tax Assessors is accountable for that actions of that board is simply riduculous, and you know it.
Is Charlie Laughinghouse accountable for the actions of the Board of Commissioners if he votes in the minority on a losing vote? Of course not. I do not know how Mike Busse voted on any issue on the Board of Tax Assessors, and neither I suspect, do you. Neither have you shown any willingness to understand the basics of what goes into assessing property in Forsyth County for the 2008 tax year, especially those that are mandated by state law.
Why you simply can't admit that your attack specifically on Mr. Busse is your way to pay back Brian Tam for his efforts to try to get the county to buy the Lanier Golf Course right now, rather than when a full and complete financial assessment of the property can be taken, is beyond me. You got caught in your attempt and any person of character would have simply admitted it. Especially since we all can see it for what it is.
Dave, didn't you also say that you support buying the golf course?
Also, I am a conservative in every way too Gray. I believe in the Right to Life and marriage between a man and woman. Neal Boortz made me sick supporting Gay marriage the other day. I hope California can get it over-turned. He can't understand how two people of the same sex having the same marriage rights as people of the opposite sex will harm the Holy state of matramony. Is that what you believe Dave? Or do you think it should include any sex as well as barnyard animals?
Dear Neighbors,
Mr Busse responded to my original comments. He did not express any opposition to the assessment increases. The simple facts are that property values have been declining for more than 18 months and there is no justification for 55,000 Forsyth County residents recieving assessment increases. The state mandates assessment updates. It does not mandate assessment increases. It is the responsibility of the Forsyth County Board of Tax Assessors to see that updates are done properly. They failed.There is no justification for assessment increases during a period of declining property values but those 55,000 who recieved increases will pay higher taxes.
Lynn,
I have always said that I support buying Lanier Golf Course for the county, however, only after doing a thorough financial review, and not one moment before that.
I'll leave the barnyard animals to you.
Mr. Quinn is Right. Where is the outrage!? As property values decline Forsyth County residents pay higher taxes. This is shameful! Do not stand for oppressive government!
Oh gee Dave, how much is a thorough financial review of the golf course going to cost the county? Was that $100,000.00? Also how much is it going to cost the county to get financial advisors to buy bonds instead of a bank who will do it for free? Wow, no wonder our taxes are going up Mr. Quinn? We can't spit without an expert to tell us how to do it anymore.
As well as I have known both of these people- this entire thing is sad. What grieves me is that no one should totally discount all the work Anna McManus has done for the party and for the conservative cause because of a disagreement. She is a person of integrity as well. All the rest of it is between Gray and Anna, but that conclusion was just plain cruel.
I am so embarrassed Gray. Please forgive my dyslexia. I inadvertently called you the foulest name imaginable in that I twisted Gray Smith into Gary Smith. “Never had I been as proud of my chosen party as when Gary (sic) [Gray] Smith was at the helm”.
I shutter at the thoughts of my inexcusable mistake. Buuuurrrrrr!!! Sorry bout’ that Gray ole buddy. Will a gift certificate for a large hot fudge Sunday at the Dairy Queen fix it?
Dear neighbors,
This discussion started about unjustifiable increases in property assessments. There is no need for old friends to start calling names. Your all good people that view issues differently. If we try to stick to the facts and at least agree to allow disagrement some issues may actually be resolved.
Boycott Boff,
Boycott meaning...To act together in abstaining from using, buying or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion.
Whew! Sounds like a lot of hurt feelings here. I guess there's some truth in the old adage that good friends shouldn't go into business together.
Add a Comment
Please be civil.