Columns

This is in response to Linda Blackmon’s letter to the editor in Sunday’s paper.
Mrs. Blackmon, I would like to point out that The Lancaster News has written exactly what you have said since this election protest started a year ago. Nothing is one-sided.
Sometimes common sense flies out the window. A lot of us wonder why you thought you could just vote to make yourself $6,750 richer. It makes no sense. You should have asked City Attorney Mitch Norrell before you voted.

The S.C. General Assembly is far different than 27 years ago when Operation Lost Trust blew open the cozy culture of the State House with federal charges against 28 legislators and lobbyists in a cash-for-votes sting.
People went to jail. Some avoided it. Ethics rules were changed to become some of the toughest in the nation as it became virtually impossible for people to buy a cup of coffee legally for a friend in the legislature.  

As it turns out, the now-suspended V.C. Summer project isn’t the only nuclear concern in South Carolina.
The Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council (NAC) met Oct. 11 to discuss the troubles facing a poorly managed plutonium fuel construction operation at the Savannah River Site. In the aftermath of the V.C. Summer project, this nuclear operation and the council tasked with overseeing it have mostly existed in the background, overlooked by many.
Exactly who sits on this council, and what do they do?

“Blackmon seeks $6,750 in back pay,” your Oct. 11 front page announced.
After reading the article, and recollecting information from your previous articles about this election, I’ve come to my own conclusion.
Linda Blackmon did not hold office for the preceding nine months because of Jackie Harris’ objection to the means by which the votes were cast. The disparity in the numbers of absentee votes for each candidate, and the way they were obtained, leaves me with some doubt about their authenticity.