To the Editor:
Mr. Fortner’s letter of last Wednesday April 16 is absurd.  The Board Of Commissioners who made the decision regarding Mr. Whitson’s hiring and salary in 2007 was dominated by Republicans 3to2, including Ted Owens and  Tom Pack.
So, what the current commissioners inherited relative to Mr. Whitson’s salary and benefits was, for the most part, of their own making.
The real issue has been the manner in which this board has removed Mr. Whitson from his county manager position while he was on military duty, and cleverly replaced him uncompetively with Mr. Pittman, seemingly as a political favor and all at considerable expense to the Polk County taxpayers.
And, Mr. Fortner’s allegation that Ms. McDermott has knowledge about buy outs by virtue of her previous experience as an attorney again shows his complete ignorance.  Ms. McDermott was an environmental lawyer, not a business lawyer.
Renee McDermott has made a strong positive mark on Polk County in both her public service as a commissioner, and in community service.  She has been active in the Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) for 11 years, including a term as President, and is currently chair person of the PAC Land Committee, and a VP of PAC.  She has used her legal experience to write many voluntary conservation easements.
She has served on the Polk County Community Foundation Board of Directors for 6 years, on the Grants Committee for 3 years, and on the Education Committee for 3 years.  She has also volunteered for Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry.
Renee and her husband, Jim established a scholarship through the Polk County Community Foundation that can be awarded to a Polk County student for up to four (4) years.
Ray Gasperson has served as a Polk County Commissioner for 6 years.  He has done this while being employed full time with his own business, and also operating a small farm (mainly hay production).  He has served as Chairman and as Vice Chairman of this Board of Commissioners.
He has been a trustee of Isothermal Community College, and  a commission board member of Isothermal Planning and Development.  Ray is currently running for re-election to the Board of Commissioners.
The charge by Mr. Fortner that Ray is a “stooge” for Ms. McDermott is distasteful, and completely without merit.
To the contrary, Ray Gasperson is a very independent thinker, and he has demonstrated this on numerous occasions with both Republican and Democratic board members.
I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat.
I am for the continuing improvement of Polk County to the benefit of all of us, long time residents and newcomers.
We owe it to ourselves to challenge what appears to be wrong, but this needs to be done on the merits of  matters, not by cheap shot name calling.

– David Maxwell,
Columbus