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Highlands Today

Negative Campaigning

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Cheyenne Morin

Published: October 22, 2008

Mary Wilson's campaign has come under fire for "negative" campaigning. We would like to point out that never have we discussed anything that was not campaign related or anything that was not related to Mr. Germaine's job performance. We don't feel that just because an issue shines a negative light on a candidate that is "negative" campaigning. Before you condemn Mary for "negative" campaigning ask yourself these questions:

Isn't it a legitimate issue to discuss Mary's education over that of Mr. Germaine?

Isn't it a legitimate issue to discuss that Mr. Germaine will be a double dipper, collecting more than $1 million in benefits paid for by the taxpayers over the next four years? Despite Mr. Germaine's claims, Sen. Mike Fasano stated very clearly on a local radio show recently that Mr. Germaine would in fact be a double dipper and that he would be exactly the type of double dipper that should be legislated out of the DROP Program.

Isn't it a legitimate issue to discuss Mr. Germaine's association with a disgruntled former employee who has harassed and attempted to intimidate Mary during this campaign?

Isn't it a legitimate issue to discuss that 19 clerk's employees under Mr. Germaine's supervision were found to be misusing the county's instant messenger system and that only one of those 19 were ever disciplined?

Isn't it a legitimate issue to discuss what Mr. Germaine intends to do about two of his employees, a cousin and a nephew, who would have to be released from their jobs at the clerk's office because Florida law prohibits nepotism?

Any reasonable person can see that these are legitimate issues, crying for answers and are directly related to Mr. Germaine's management skills, job performance and management judgment. It's time Highlands County left behind election entitlement and campaign intimidation.

Cheyenne Morin
Sebring

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