Dear Editor,
While I have the utmost respect for Pastor Paul Gardner, I feel compelled to address recent claims that simply don’t line up with the facts. I’m questioning the validity of these statements based on my own face-to-face conversations with Mr. Gardner and on a video in which he personally admits to attending the meeting of the Putnam Development Authority.
I’m sticking strictly to the facts here — no hearsay. First, that Equestrian Club meeting was clearly a recruitment meeting. We know because both Paul Gardner and Dale Bills admitted this at a recorded meet-and-greet held in March. Both were personally invited by PDA Chairman Walt Rocker, specifically as opponents to Jennifer Ray, Erin Olson, and Commissioner Hersey, who have scrutinized the Putnam County Development Authority's business practices.
It’s worth noting that Mr. Gray, Mr. Hooker, and several Independents also attended the recruitment meeting.
Second, while Pastor Gardner mentions in his ad that he declined financial support at that meeting, the real question is: why was he being offered money in the first place? It is highly unethical for the chairman of the PDA to orchestrate such an event where multiple development authorities, including Greene County’s, are trying to influence our elections.
Third, if Pastor Gardner is adamantly against the quarry, why is he aligning himself with Charles Gray (including Vote for Gray signs placed on family property), who refuses to state a definitive position on the quarry publicly? Mr. Gray’s actions do speak loudly, as Planning & Zoning board chair, when he cast the deciding vote to postpone the last-minute hearing postponement until July 2, and allowed no discussion to the hundreds who attended the meeting. Mr. Gray was personally invited to speak at Pastor Gardner’s rally this month, solidifying the alignment, which is confusing at the very least, since the quarry is such a huge issue in this election.
Finally, since the “Elect Paul Gardner” Facebook page doesn’t allow questions or comments, which, in my view, runs counter to the spirit of transparency, I’m raising these points here in the hope of getting a clear, documented response.
I think we can all agree that false information doesn’t serve our community. Clearly, the ethical bar in Putnam County needs to be raised, and greater transparency is required.
Jim Lumpkin, a concerned Putnam taxpayer