Dear Editor,

This election has really opened my eyes to some of the inner workings of the offices we are called upon as electors to fill.

It has especially brought to light for me some of the bickering and failings inside the government center. My main question is the operation of the office of tax commissioner. The open records letters that have been researched and published leave me with a sour taste in my mouth for the current way the tax office is handled. No one likes paying taxes, but when the time comes you expect the office to be run smoothly and you expect that everyone is to be treated equally.

In one of the letters it seems as if there is a “special” program some tax payers get while the rest of us have to follow the rules. In a letter from the county to the sheriff — after the collection of taxes switched from the tax office to the Sheriff — , the county manager stated, “(Sheriff Turner) you ask if there is or ever has been any “program” set up by the Board of Commissioners to allow taxpayers to pay taxes when they “deemed it necessary” as opposed to the date for payment established by law” (letter dated January 5, 2010)

This is alarming to me. Should such favoritism even be questioned in our government? Shouldn’t the tax commissioner and all offices in the county treat everyone fairly and under the same rules? In this same letter we the citizens learn that while we are told our tax office is run efficiently there are hundreds of tax requests for payment that are invalid. Submitting these to the sheriff for collection when they are invalid could pose a potential liability for not only the sheriff, but in addition the tax office and the county. Is this an efficient office? Was the submission of these letters a simple filing accident? Either way we as citizens should be able to trust that our constitutional officers will keep us safe from possible liability as a country and everything in regards to legal documents should be checked and double checked to ensure accuracy.

That’s why in this election cycle my family is supporting Ken Boatwright for tax commissioner. Ken is a family man and native of LaGrange. His dedication to detail and passion for service has never been questioned. Ken is a certified CPA who I know can get the job done and who understands the complexities that come along with the office. Ken will be responsive to citizens’ concerns and ensure that everyone that comes to him is treated equally and that there are no “special programs” for a few while the rules apply to the rest of us. I hope you will join us in supporting Ken as well. It is time for real change in the tax office. We can no longer afford business as usual. www.votekenboatwright.com.

Sincerely,

Rosa Sloan

LaGrange