Kay Shelton's statement before the city council on May 29, 2007

Truth, justice, and the American Way shouldn’t just be a fantasy from an old TV show. I want it in the public record that there were numerous reports in the media regarding nonsense in the recent local election. I do not believe that enough people understand the seriousness of how important voting is. Not everything made it into the media, yet.

I found out after the election that some voters and reporters were told that I dropped out of the race. Other voters were told that I was not a real candidate but that I was a “plant” by Kapitan to split the vote so he would win. That disinformation has as much truth to it as Elvis Presley is alive and well, and living in DeKalb.

When I was a kid, I played softball on a team that lost every game. But, I would rather lose honestly, fairly, and with honor than to win through lying, cheating, and dishonor. I learned when I was a kid that it’s not who wins or loses but how you play the game. Based on the election antics, I suppose soccer Coach Wogen never learned the same valuable lesson.

I heard Coach Wogen’s apology a couple of weeks ago on the radio. Let’s try a sports analogy (although from baseball) to make sure everybody understands how serious lying is. I had the privilege and honor to meet U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, easily one of the most honest, unbiased, and fair individuals I will ever meet. Prosecutor Fitzgerald also has the best and most memorable description of lying, which is like “. . . throwing sand into the umpire’s face.”