Messenger Response to Woodrow Jones

By Greg Ritchie

Messenger Reporter

Editor’s note: Greg’s Corner is an award-winning, editorial (opinion) section where Messenger Reporter Greg Ritchie shares odds and ends from the job and unusual or interesting facts from across the world and across time.

MESSENGER OFFICE – First of all, I wanted to thank you, Woodrow Jones, for taking the time to read our newspaper! I appreciate people who take the time to get to know what’s going on in our county! You asked us to print your letter and we did. Let the people decide the truth of your words and your character. There were a few things I thought I would respond to, so people can also judge the truth of my words and my character. 

I saw you called me “Fake News,” and even took a minute to search online for information about journalism. I hope you didn’t do any of that research on the taxpayers’ dime…

You sent me an email after you sent your letter, demanding your letter be printed on the front page of this newspaper. Were you making this demand as a private citizen or as an employee of Crockett Economic and Industrial Corporation? Need I fear any consequences from yourself or that entity should your demands not be met?

We printed it anyway, although I doubt your words will have quite the effect you intended. 

You wrote at great length about the Assistant City Administrator position and why we didn’t give as much time to that as to your hiring. Here is the difference, and it’s pretty clear: that was a position created in a public vote by duly elected representatives. The position was included in the city budget, the position was posted openly and locally, with all welcome to apply. There were several candidates for the job. I never questioned your qualifications for your position – only the manner in which you were hired. Once again, just to make sure we are all on the same page…one position was openly budgeted, discussed, voted on and posted. The other, sadly, does not seem to have been. 

You mention that I questioned your motives about litigation against former employers. I did not. I only mentioned a couple of the cases I came across. You may have every right to sue all of them – we never questioned your motives or reasons – only the fact that these lawsuits were filed. You went into great detail about these cases which I am sure play a large part in your life and I respect that. It just has nothing to do with what we reported, even though that may be hard to accept. 

You say I will write anything for a little beans and cornbread. Now here, you make a pretty good point. I love me some beans and cornbread and to this day, no one makes them like my grandma did, rest her soul. 

You ask me to report the entire conversation, and we printed your letter. I printed the entire conversation I had with James Gentry, except the parts I assured him were off the record. This is what journalists do.

You say I should investigate the motion made by the city council to tie Mr. Gentry’s future work contract to his lawsuit and certain performance criteria. I reported the motion was made and passed. That is true. I never claimed to be an expert in this matter and never supported nor criticized the motion. It happened, and I reported it. This is what journalists do.

You further suggest you may be more qualified for this position than anyone else in Houston County. Show me where I wrote you were not qualified for this, or any other position. I wrote that Gentry believed you were qualified and mentioned you had experience in law enforcement and education. Are these statements not true?

I appreciate you saying that only when I inquire into each person in the city government, you will speak with me. I now fear that face-to-face conversation may never happen. I hope I will somehow be able to continue life without it.

The funniest part, for someone like you who has worked so many years in the public sector, was asking for The Messenger to provide qualifications for its own employees. I am writing this part very slowly, in the hope it will be fully understood. 

The Messenger is a private company. No one compels anyone to buy or read this newspaper. No one compels you to visit any private business. Government entities are different. Your salary comes from us, the taxpayers. We have every right to know who you are, your salary, your qualifications for the job and the circumstances regarding the posting of your position. This is because you take money from taxpayers.

While no one can compel you to read this paper, I cannot buy things in Crockett without paying for part of your salary. Therefore, it is public information. That is, open to the public.

The fact of the matter is, any doubts you may have about any other city officials, their salaries, their qualifications – proves this newspaper has every right to ask about yours. Had your position and your hiring been open, transparent, budgeted and approved – there would be no reason for any scandal at all, something Gentry himself acknowledged in our interview. 

You mention you have a non-disclosure agreement with CEIDC. You go on to say, “Most businesses have a Non-Disclosure Agreement.” Many businesses do have non-disclosure agreements, correct! Businesses. Not government, not cities and I regret to inform you, this now includes you.

It’s ridiculous for a public official – if you ever get voted in to the job officially – to demand a reporter’s communications with other public officials. Sorry, it doesn’t work like that.

Your level of confusion over what is a public, government-funded job and a private business does raise serious concerns about your ability to manage the CEIDC office. Will you lash out, make demands and threats against anyone who requests information or questions your decisions? How will that improve transparency at CEIDC and further its mission?

I wonder if Mr. Gentry is thinking he should have interviewed more people for the position.

If ever officially approved, you will be a public official in a public job, and the people have the right to ask questions about you. I know, it’s no fun. I am only sorry the people who interviewed you for the position didn’t mention that before you took the job. You told me “a couple of people” interviewed you, but you refused to say who.

Who exactly was it who interviewed you? Do any of them serve on the CEIDC board and/or city council? These are open questions to a public official. That is what journalists do.

Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]