Political Flier Causes Stir
Last updated Friday, May 9, 2008 10:40 PM CDT in News
By Scarlet Sims
The Morning News
BENTONVILLE - A political flier that attacks Sen. Dave Bisbee's legislative career is showing up in mailboxes countywide.
"This is hate mail, and they don't have the nerve to put their name on it," Bisbee said after a debate hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Young Republicans on Friday.
Bisbee, R-Rogers, is running against four other Republican candidates for Benton County judge. Voters will decide May 20 between the candidates. If necessary, a run-off election is scheduled for June 10. Whomever wins will face Democratic candidate Bill Williams in the General Election.
The flier is a professional-quality, glossy 6-by-8 inch card that probably cost about $15,000, Bisbee said. The card says it is paid for by Citizens for an Open and Responsive Government and is not authorized by any candidate, campaign or committee. The card, which uses Bisbee's own campaign logo on the front, references a Web blog apparently run by Henry Hazlitt, a dead man.
"I've got a dead man working against me," Bisbee said.
Bisbee said the card inaccurately represents his record and takes quotes out of context. He said the same information is on a Web site that promotes former Justice of the Peace Bill Adams, R-southeastern Benton County. Adams is also running for on the Republican ticket for Benton County judge.
Adams said he doesn't know the organization behind the card and said he couldn't have afforded mass mailing. Another candidate, Kevin Harrison, said he also did not have the funds for such a campaign and if he did have the money, he would have promoted himself with positive campaigning.
Candidate and Rogers Alderman Greg Hines called the card "slanderous."
"This is the wrong kind of politics," Hines said.
The person or organization responsible should use its own name.
Bisbee said the group does not have to register as a political action committee because the card does not explicitly say to vote for or against anyone.
Justice of the Peace Chris Glass, R-northeastern Benton County, is also running for county judge. He said he didn't know who was behind the flier but said the flier does have some truth to it. Bisbee has voted for taxes in the past, Glass said.
The incident is the second time fliers against Bisbee have shown up, Glass said. Fliers were placed on cars at the Association for Beaver Lake Environment forum in March.
Reader Comments (4 comment(s))
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flamingo79 wrote on May 10, 2008 9:57 AM:
Not already registered?
10-4 wrote on May 10, 2008 1:49 AM: