Wow. Just wow. Stephanie, I hope you are mortified that he snuck that last column in just in time. You've been used in the worst way. That column soured my taste for Patch when I read it and I don't even know any of the candidates Mr. Matthews skewered in his so-called "overview" of the 113th candidates. Top priority in a candidate for me--integrity. Currently not seeing it in this one in this situation.

Holly, when I wrote the overview column, I was not a candidate. I re-read it and decided I would be hypocrite to complain about the issues, every announced candidate (so far) and not do something about it. I am sorry you feel I have no integrity, but I am true to myself and you know exactly what you will get with me, and you do not know what you will get with the other three candidates. This is my first campaign, and I hope you will take the time to judge me on the issues, rather than make a false blanket statement about me.

Dan, I appreciate your response. Please note that I was very careful to limit my question of integrity to this situation. It was not a blanket statement. However, stating that I don't know what I'll get with the other candidates IS a blanket statement. I hope there will be a candidate debate so the issues can be discussed. I'd also like to share that I've had a bookmark to your Oconee Democrat blog for years now. Despite my republican leanings, I have often found your postings to be very informative and have appreciated your passion for our community. Your blog, in fact, is where your overview column belonged, in my opinion. Something about the tone and, ultimately, the timing of your Patch published column on Monday, however, rubbed me the wrong way, and it will remain a factor with me in this election.

Lastly, I'll say you appear to be running for all the right reasons. I do wish you, the other candidates, and our community a healthy and fair campaign full of honest debate of the issues at hand.

Holly,

There will be a candidates forum on June 8 at the Oconee County Library. http://patch.com/A-h01c. Organizers say citizens will be able to pose questions directly to the candidates.

There is also a Chamber of Commerce debate emceed by Tim Bryant at North Oconee HS June 16th I believe

Hmmmm, An article on Monday whining about how the choices of the people of Oconee County didn't suit his democrat ideals, and blasting all of the republican candidates on Monday, then filing on Wednesday for qualifications? I'd say that that was an awful sneaky last minute use of media credentials! But nonetheless, I look forward to seeing Mr Matthews in the candidate forums!