The Lee Dispatch

An Email, A Flag, and A March

2012-02-21T08:55:00.003-05:00

Symbols Should Make Lee County Voters Wary

It was designed to attract attention. It did. And every voter needs to see it.

Video and Commentary On Womack's March

2012-02-20T13:50:00.003-05:00

Coming Tuesday. Watch For It.

What kind of economy will our youth inherit?

2012-02-20T13:48:00.002-05:00

Dr. Mile Walden

Walden: Will Four Trends and Themes Make “COFFEE”?

Plus: Editor's Notes for the Coming Elections

Sanford Herald:Sneak Peaks At “Audits”

2012-02-17T04:52:00.005-05:00

An Audit Tale (Rated PG-13)

Audit	Links-No Registration
Lee County Government	Sanford Herald - Draft audit contains commendations some critiques Read More
Lee County Schools	Sanford Herald - Lee County Schools audit contains commendations recommendations Read More

Just When You Think Womack Has Done It All

2012-02-16T01:38:00.001-05:00

Yes, it is true. Update: 2/16/12 8:19 PM

Jim Womack carried a United States flag as his handpicked candidates marched from the new GOP Headquarters on Steele Street to the Board of Elections Office. Womack had originally promised 6 candidates and a host of state GOP leaders from Raleigh. Dozens of witnesses have confirmed no one of prominence was in the march.

His forces were depleted by half--only three showed up. Reliable sources have confirmed that one often-mentioned candidate dropped out when he refused to pledge to follow Womack's voting instructions during commission meetings. Extensive witness interviews have identified those candidates marching to Womack's cadence. They include Kirk Smith for county commissioner and Cameron Sharpe and David Hector for Board of Education. Reports of videos showing the march are still being pursued. “No man for any considerable period can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Its Another Book But The Same Story

2012-02-13T09:01:00.000-05:00

With Purpose To Deceive

It is unethical for a member of a public governing body to lie for the purpose of misleading the pubic and fellow elected representatives in an attempt to make himself look good. Such a member loses the trust of colleagues, professional staff, and community leaders, and forfeits a leadership role. Often the errant public official fails to see his own faults. Instead he reacts by blaming others and seeking more political power.

Video: Womack Yields to Reives Over Apology

2012-02-09T10:37:00.000-05:00

Commissioner Jim Womack had just finished one of his windy sermons on the need to take politics out of the the workings of the Board of Commissioners. When Commissioner Robert Reives challenged Womack to demonstrate his lofty words by apologizing to County Manager John Crumpton and Dale Talbert, Womack became indignant.

Read More>>>

Herald Reports On Editor's Board Presentation

2012-02-08T07:55:00.001-05:00

Read Article (no registration required)

Notice the places where three commissioners take actions or positions contrary to legal opinion.

Splitting Lee County: All Political To Shook & Womack

2012-02-08T06:37:00.000-05:00

Emails Disclose Political Motive
A vote by Commissioner Charlie Parks at the January 23, 2012 was stunning. He departed his usual lockstep alliance with Commissioners Shook and Womack and voted for a motion to send a written request to Representative Mike Stone to appear before the Board of Commissioners to discuss how the new redistricting maps will impact Lee County. Shook and Womack voted against it in a rare 5-2 vote (as opposed to the normal 4-3 count). Why did Shook and Womack vote no on a subject of interest to many Lee County citizens? The answer to the unusual vote by Parks is among emails released by county officials--an action that has lead to more criticism of county officials by Commissioner Womack.
Read More>>>

Free Offer: Released Email CD

2012-02-08T06:31:00.000-05:00

Lee County citizens may soon be able to get a free copy of the CD containing James Womack's explosive emails.

At Monday's meeting, Commissioners asked County Attorney and staff to review a CD of a recent request from Ms. Sheila Barber and issue the CD at no charge to her. The request was for a copy of a previously released CD that contained emails from Jim Womack. (Information on obtaining a copy is included with the rest of this post.)

Read More>>>

Commissioners Meeting In Progress - UPDATED

2012-02-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

Editor at Work

Progress Report
The Lee County Commission meeting began at 3:00 and finally·adjourned after a final closed session at 7:30. The highlight of the meeting was an "apology" by Jim Womack to John Crumpton and Dale Talbert. Womack first said he would apologize in private, but a trademark "Reives Slap" forced it out of Womack in public. Before the "apology", County Manager John Crumpton responded to another Womack critical email that was received last Friday. Read the exclusive story from the Fayetteville Observer by clicking here.

Evergreen Audit Under Investigation

2012-02-07T13:43:00.000-05:00

UNC Law School Center Investigating Evergreen Solutions Performance Audit

A public information request sent by certified mail was received by Lee County School Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Moss on January 23, 2012 seeking extensive information relating to the Evergreen Solutions Audit. An attorney made the request on behalf of The Center for Civil Rights, a part of the UNC Law School.

Shook and Allies: No Assistance Needed

2012-02-07T10:34:00.002-05:00

An ailing Commissioner Charlie Parks was not present at the 2/6/2012 of the Lee Commission but fulfilled his assignment through a telephone hookup to the meeting. As the commissioners took up the normally routine approval of the agenda, Parks moved to delete a scheduled presentation. This motion is unprecedented and no citizen who has complied with requirements has ever been removed from the agenda. Later, after the motion was defeated 4-3, Shook suggested that Parks should consider leaving the phone connection and recuperate from a case of bronchitis.

Read More>>>

The Tank Keeps Rolling

2012-02-05T08:24:00.000-05:00

Jim Womack's Assault on First Amendment Continues

“ I am a Cavalry officer with a 20-year career on tanks. I learned to destroy things in three ways”.

Public information laws are rooted in the First Amendment. Yet Commissioner Jim Womack continues a campaign to attack the ability of citizens to hold him accountable by shielding his information. It is no surprise from the desperate commissioner who once wrote, " We troopers tend not to hide behind things, preferring instead to engage in direct assaults where shock action, surprise, and audacity are characteristic."

Accountability Preserves Freedom

2012-02-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

"To maintain our liberty, it is necessary to hold elected officials accountable for their behavior in their position of trust"-Keith Clark

Sanford Herald - Letter Voters Can Hold Womack Accountable Read more

Womack Aftershock Affects Blogger

2012-02-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

Newly Re-brewed Conservatism

Blogger Adopts Womack Approach To Keystroke Tracks

Posts are disappearing as the strongly opinionated Shelia Barber prepares for her campaign for a seat on the Lee County Board of Elections.

Read More>>>

Womack Email: Dangling Flip Flops

2012-01-30T04:21:00.000-05:00

Womack Gimmick--FAIL

"Wouldn’t it be nice if soaceone [someone] were to bring a set of flip flops, labeled EDC policy, to hang on the front of the podium at next Monday’s BOC meeting asking if the slippers might fit any of the sitting commissioners. I believe Reives would get the message.” Womack Email

Command Response to Plan: "That was a bad plan Lt.Colonel Jim Womack, (Ret). First, it is strategically stupid. Second, it is based on inaccurate situation analysis. Third, you breached security. Fourth, it is operationally flawed. Finally, even if the plan worked, the consequences would be untenable."
Editor's note: You will want to read this to the very end.
Read More>>>

Sunday's Columns (Great This Week)

2012-01-30T01:54:00.000-05:00

George Will (click here)
Charles Krauthammer (click here)
Walter Williams (click here)
Ann Coulter (click here)
Cal Thomas (click here)

Audacious Arrogance

2012-01-26T11:08:00.001-05:00

Update: According to thorough reporting by Billy Ball of the Sanford Herald, Womack is now blaming the staff for releasing an email that the NC Press Association says is absolutely public information. Chair Linda Shook tried to disavow any responsibility by saying she couldn't read minds. A longer video excerpt of Womack's comments than the one below can be found by clicking here. Shook was presiding at the meeting and completely ignored her responsibility as the chair of the meeting to maintain decorum and ethics. She had every chance to rule Womack out of order--and did not. But then she never has followed the rules of order. In the end, Shook and Womack's other follower, Charlie Parks, end up shrugging off the incident. Imagine what will happen if they get just one more vote in November.

Jim Womack jumped to the microphone to discount that one of his emails is being shared among members of the public, on blogs, and possible newspaper stories at Wednesday's reception honoring retiring County Attorney Dick Hoyle for his 50 years of service to Lee County. He then expressed his respect for the guest of honor for being like him, a believer in the Savior and serving in the military. He then bounded to Mr.Hoyle for a hardy handshake and "shoulder hug." Dick Hoyle, ever the gentleman and perhaps the county's most respected citizen, smiled just as he would for anyone. There is more than a circulating email to document Womack's lashing out at county staff in an October meeting of the county commission unchecked by his ally, Chair Linda Shook. The video excerpt below documents Womack's disdainful judgements.
Read More>>>

Womack's Email Not His First Meltdown

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Shook Fails To Restrain Womack
The recently discovered email is not Commissioner Jim Womack's first unethical tirade blasting county professional and legal staff--this time in a public forum--the October 10, 2011 commission meeting. By completely ignoring established board rules of parliamentary procedure, Chair Linda Shook has allowed Womack to bully his way without restraint in Board of Commissioners meetings. When four commissioners failed to accept Womack's unsustainable legal interpretations and followed the advice of a respected county attorney, he showed the same vengeful behavior evidenced in the email. It is time for Chair Shook to enforce rules of procedure and make commission meetings a no bully zone. Allowing this to continue, is the only reason needed for denying her and Womack an absolute majority of the board in this year's election. See the 2 minute video of Womack's attack at this link.

Email--Womack Looks for Something to Crush

2012-01-24T16:28:00.001-05:00

Tienanmen Square-Lone Man Fights For Freedom

Womack Email Threatens With Tank Analogy

Several people have seen the opening minutes of last night's county commissioners' meeting and have asked why this picture was presented to them--The answer is more from Jim Womack's email.

That Jim Womack would brag to Richard Littiken and Kirk Smith about threatening county officials with being crushed by a tank came as no surprise.

What Was Found in Email

2012-01-23T14:58:00.000-05:00

Yes, there is a strongly dissenting view found in a public record on the county mail server.
Click here to read. The link is necessary to prevent web searches engines from finding the slanderous opinions expressed by the email author.
Read More>>>

Hoyle Gets Accolades, Again

2012-01-23T11:16:00.001-05:00

The Sanford Herald named Richard Hoyle as its 2011 winner of its Lifetime Achievement Award. Read Article. The Lee Dispatch hardily agrees with this recognition, and is reprinting its December 8, 2011 post.

Kenneth R. Hoyle, Esquire

If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless."— Moliere Tartuffe, V, i (1622-1673)

It is as if Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, had Kenneth Hoyle in mind thousands of years ago. And a man like Mr. Hoyle can, indeed, leave a legacy that can influence centuries.
Monday night an era will end as the Lee County Commissioners accept the retirement of County Attorney Kenneth R. Hoyle and honor him with a resolution. Mr. Hoyle has been serving as county attorney for nearly five decades and served as the Town of Broadway's attorney for 28 years of those years..

Commissioner Email News Coming

2012-01-20T13:20:00.001-05:00

There is an email circulated in the community in which a commissioner attacks the reputation of one of Lee County's most revered and respected public servants, attacks other professionals, and discloses the plan to be implemented in December, if certain candidates are elected. Although this email has been in my possession for some time, its initial availability to the public was not provided by me. After it was clear that it was public, I have shared it with some individuals.

What is written on the blog is picked up in search engines. I do not want to put the email here in a way that carries these statements into archives that could be found by potential future employers of some of the unfairly attacked professionals.

What this email reveals about a political agenda in Lee County is an important item for Lee County citizens. A process is being reviewed to allow the document to be made available o line with protection against entering openly onto the web. Sign up for email delivery or check back for instructions on obtaining access to the document.

Richard Hayes -- Paralyzed By Caution

2012-01-16T21:58:00.000-05:00

Cautious, careful people . . . never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and . . . bear the consequences.

- Susan B. Anthony

It is no small task to respond to the recent letter from Commissioner Richard Hayes. The first sentence was 59 words long. And it was replete with the grammatical twists and turns similar to his sometimes muddled discussion of issues before the county commission. Having spent hours in commission meetings, here is a reasonable take away from the letter.